Going to the Bridge service at
The Archway Centre
the Bridge service
for
men
The Bridge service is a
sexual health clinic for
people with learning disabilities.
This easy-read booklet will
help you understand what
happens at the Bridge service.
learning_men_arch.indd 1
You can look at this
booklet with a carer.
2/11/11 12:08:47
If you are having sex, it is a
good idea to have regular
sexual health check-ups.
the Bridge service
Monday
9am - 6.15pm
Tuesday
9am - 6.15pm
Wednesday
1.30pm - 6.15pm
Thursday
9am - 6.15pm
Friday
9am - 3.30pm
You can have a sexual health
check-up at the Bridge service
at The Archway Centre.
These are our opening times.
You can choose the time and
day that would be best for you.
Page 2 shows you how to
get here.
Ring 020 3317 5252 and say
you want an appointment with
the Bridge service.
Tell them which day you would
like to come.
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Archway
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St. John
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The
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e Hill
Archway
Tube
Getting There:
By tube: Northern Line to Archway
By bus: 271, 43, 41, 17, 263, 134,
143, W5, C11, 210, 135, 10, 4
Holloway Road
X
The
Archway
Centre
The map above shows where
the Archway Centre is.
If you come by tube, take the
Junction Road exit.
Cross Junction Road at the
pedestrian crossing.
Walk straight on down Holloway
Road, past The Lion pub.
The Archway Centre is a few
doors down past the pub,
on the same side of the road.
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This is the way in to the
Archway Centre in Holloway
Road.
If you want, you can bring
someone with you to the clinic.
This can be a friend or a carer.
Your visit to the clinic could take
as long as 2 hours.
When you get here, go through
the front doors and then up the
stairs to the first floor.
Or you can use the wheelchair
lift.
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The door to Reception is at the
top of the stairs.
Go through and speak to the
person behind the desk.
Tell them your name and say
you’ve come for the Bridge
service.
You will be shown where to wait
to see a health adviser.
They will be expecting you, so
you will not have to wait too long.
The health adviser will take you
to a private room. No one else
will be able to hear what you say.
Everything you say will be kept
private. This means that no one
at the clinic will tell anyone else
anything you said.
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doctor
I’m a
bit worried
about...
carer
Thank you
for letting
me know...
But you might tell us something
that makes us believe that you
or someone else is in danger of
being hurt.
If this happens, we may have to
tell someone. But we will always
talk to you before we do.
The health adviser will help you
fill in a form.
You will need to give:
l your
name
l your
address
l your
phone number
l your
date of birth
The health adviser may need
to ask you questions about your
sex life, like:
Do your private parts hurt?
When did you last have sex?
Was it with a man or a woman?
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You don’t have to answer all the
questions if you don’t want to.
But the more you can tell us, the
better we will be able to help you.
You may feel shy at first. But our
friendly staff will soon make you
feel comfortable.
They have lots of experience of
talking about sex.
They will be happy to answer
any questions you want to ask.
At first...
...but soon...
After this, you will see a doctor.
You can choose to see a man or
a woman doctor.
The health adviser will take you
to another waiting room. You will
wait here to see the doctor.
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The doctor will probably ask you
more questions.
Then the doctor will explain what
tests you need to have done.
The tests will show if you have
caught any infections.
You may need a urine (wee) test,
so please do not wee before you
come to the clinic.
For a urine test, you have to wee
in a small pot.
If you need a blood test, the
nurse will take a blood sample
from your arm.
You may have given a blood
sample before. It doesn’t really
hurt.
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If you have any pain or other
symptoms, the doctor might need
to look at your private parts.
For this, you will need to pull
down your trousers and pants.
The doctor may ask you to lean
or sit on the edge of the bed so
he can look at your private parts.
The doctor may use some cotton
buds or other things to take
some samples for tests.
It may feel a little uncomfortable,
but it should not hurt.
You can ask the doctor to
stop at any time you want to.
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After you have seen the doctor,
you can get dressed again.
The health adviser will talk to
you about what happens next.
Usually, they will want you to
come back in 1 week for the
results of your tests. They will
help you to make your next
appointment.
No one else but you will be told
the results of your tests. They
are private.
Don’t forget that health advisers
can also help you:
l with
advice about safer sex
l with
advice about contraceptives
l learn
l by
to use condoms properly
giving you FREE condoms
9
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This booklet has been made by The Good Sexual Health Team
at Camden Provider Services. We are grateful for the input of the
sexual health advisers at the West London Centre for Sexual
Health, who run the Pearl service for people with learning
disabilities. In addition, we would like to thank the Easy-info Group
at The Advocacy Project, who gave us invaluable feedback.
If you need more copies of this resource, there is a downloadable
version on the Camden Provider Services website:
www.camdenproviderservices.nhs.uk
CPS SRH GUM 10/11 003
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