ABSTRACT
What issues you should cover1 Giving information about genitourinary (GUM) clinics Access to GUM clinics varies across the country and new users often find it difficult to know what is available. People are often fearful of attending because of perceived stigma, or just because going somewhere new always provokes anxiety - and it is difficult to ask a friend to go with them for support. You should know where the clinics are and how people can be seen. It is a good idea to visit the clinic yourself - this will enable you to give more detail to patients (e.g. where the nearest car park is, or what the reception area is like). Passing on this sort of detailed information can help to reduce patients’ anxiety. It may mean that they are more inclined to visit the clinic because they feel less fearful about what they can expect. Some clinics have open access while others require appointments to be made by telephone. Some are open in the evening, others from 10am to 5pm (not very convenient!). Some of the clinics now have a seamless one-stop service together with contraceptive clinics or are on the same premises to allow for easy transfers between services.
