Wirral 320
GIRLS are set to be offered pregnancy tests in every Wirral high school as part of a teenage health drive.
And the Daily Post can reveal Liverpool secondaries are also set to offer the service with health chiefs planning to pilot sexual health clinics at five schools in the city.
Last night family campaigners attacked the move, saying it “sends out the message that it is normal for children to engage in sexual activity.”
But health and education officials insisted the measure was crucial to educate pupils on sexual health and drive down teenage pregnancy rates.
A Daily Post investigation has revealed 13 out of Wirral’s 29 secondary schools have offered pregnancy testing from November – just after the start of the academic year.
The Health Services in Schools drop-in clinics allow pupils to pop in during the school day.
Students can confidentially receive pregnancy tests along with a raft of services ranging from the morning after pill, height and weight measuring, and advice on alcohol and smoking.
Although pupils are encouraged to tell parents of their visits, Wirral health and council officials have written to parents confirming they do not require consent as the law dictates “no young person can be prevented by the school from accessing the health service”.
Last night NHS Wirral which provides the clinics said their arrival followed requests from young people themselves.
And because they have been so “well received” the plan was to roll out the clinics to every secondary in the borough.
The move comes as figures show the number of Wirral under 18s falling pregnant dropped from 312 to 303 between 2006-7.
Gordon Fair, a lead consultant on the programme said: “Initial indications have shown that health services in school teams are providing early identification on a range of potential health related issues.”
He added: “We have found that many young people are being helped and guided on issues including smoking, alcohol use and associated risk-taking behaviours.”
Last night Liverpool PCT confirmed it was working with Liverpool council on plans to launch pregnancy testing and sexual health drop-in services in five yet-to-be chosen Liverpool high schools.
Figures for 2007 show in Liverpool 51.6 per 1000 15-17 year-olds fall pregnant compared to the 41.7 national average.
A Liverpool PCT spokeswoman said the project was in “its infancy” but would be offered to schools “on a voluntary basis, and only with the full agreement of senior management teams and governing bodies.”