1. PARTNER NOTIFICATION & THE ROLE OF THE HEALTH ADVISOR (2)
STEPHEN MYALL
HEALTH ADVISOR
ST PETER’S HEALTH CENTRE

2. INTRODUCTION
APPROXIMATELY 80% OF HEALTH ADVISORS ARE NURSES BY BACKGROUND
MY BACKGROUND – GENERAL/ MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
HIV
MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELLOR

3. KEY ROLES PARTNER NOTIFICATION
PATIENT CHOICE – to inform sexual partners themselves (Majority)
‘Provider referral’ –clinic contacts the partner anonymously
AIM – Reduction of Infection/ Health Education
TIME FRAME – Chlamydia/ Gonorrhoea – 6 months
HIV/Syphilis/Hepatitis – as far back as possible

4. DISTRESS/ANXIETY/GUILT!
EXAMPLES
HERPES
SEX OUTSIDE PRIMARY RELATIONSHIP
COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS
SAME SEX SEX!
HEALTH ANXIETY
SEX ADDICTION

5. UNDER 16’s Minimum age 13 (Otherwise Paediatrics) Competency
Safeguarding
Safe sex – Contraception
Coercion – grooming
Alcohol/drugs/£
Adult awareness – Parent/ relative/ Significant other
Legalities

6. RATIONALE Break the chain of transmission
Prevent re-infection of the index patient
Prevent complications of untreated infection
Moral duty/ ethics to inform?

7. PN IN PRIMARY CARE
Advise patients with an STI that partner/s will need testing / treating
Offer choices of partner notification e.g. –patient to inform their contacts
Consider local referral pathways for management of patient with STI to include PN arrangements

8. SCENARIO 15 YEAR OLD FEMALE – TESTED POSITIVE FOR CHLAMYDIA
SUSPECTED THAT HER 15 YEAR OLD BOYFRIEND HAD BEEN UNFAITHFUL
HAS HIS CONTACT DETAILS BUT IS WITHOLDING THEM – SAYING THAT SHE ‘DOESN’T CARE ABOUT HIM – HE GAVE IT TO ME – SO WHY SHOULD I BOTHER HELPING HIM’
SUGGEST WAYS IN WHICH THIS SITUATION COULD BE HANDLED IN TERMS OF PN

9. FURTHER INFORMATION In general
1/4 of young people are sexually active before age 16
They are the group least likely to use contraception
Concern about confidentiality is the biggest deterrent to seeking advice
Definitions
Child = ‘a person who has not yet reached 18 years of age’
The GMC makes a further definition
Children = younger children who lack the maturity and understanding to make important decisions for themselves
Young people = older or more experienced children who can make these decisions

10. REFERENCES
Public health benefits of partner notification for sexually transmitted infections and HIV: TECHNICAL REPORT 11 MARCH 2014
Partner notification is influenced by patients’ knowledge, attitudes and the type of sexual relationship. (European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention)
Partner notification for sexually transmitted infections in the modern world: a practitioner perspective on challenges and opportunities. 9 JANUARY 2012
PN makes a valuable contribution to both patient care and STI control. (BMJ)
Sexually Transmitted Infections in Primary Care RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners) Sex, Drugs, HIV and Viral Hepatitis Group British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) Second Edition 2013