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  • St Hughs Bootle Clinic - Tuesday 12th August 2025

    Due to essential maintenance work our Bootle clinic will be closed on Tuesday 12th August.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

  • Coming Soon!! Mpox & Gonorrhoea Vaccines

    If you are at a high risk of infection from mpox or gonorrhoea you will soon be able to have vaccinations to protect against these infections.  Having these vaccines will help protect you and others by reducing the spread of infections. Please look out for updates of when vaccinations are available at our clinics.

  • Missed Appointments

    In June 2025 146 appointments were missed.  Each missed appointment costs the NHS £150 approx.  Cancelling your appointment in advance helps us to offer the appointment to another patient in need. Please call us to cancel your appointment if you know you are no longer able to attend. Thank you

PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis)

Page Graphic PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis) header image

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)may stop you developing an HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection if you’ve exposed to the virus. A course of tablets are taken to reduce the risk of catching HIV within 72 hours of coming in contact with the virus. It should be started as soon as possible after contact as it will be more effective. The tablets are taken for a period of 4 weeks. As it is not guaranteed to work, it is advisable to have protected sex (condoms) as this is more effective at preventing HIV transmission and also reduces the risk of contracting other STIs.

Sexual Health clinics and Accident & Emergency can provide PEP. PEP is not available from your GP or at any pharmacies. PEP is available in Sefton from Sefton Sexual Health in St Hugh’s, Bootle and Southport Centre for Health & Wellbeing. Ring Sefton Sexual Health on 01695 656550 to arrange a consultation. If we are not open, please visit your nearest A&E Department.

For more information please visit The Terrence Higgins Trust

Support for people living with HIV

Merseyside Sahir House Lancashire Renaissance

Condoms
by post!

If you are aged 16 and over you can now get free condoms sent to your home. Click here for more information.

Self-help
information

You may be able to get advice or treatment sooner for some health related matters. For information on how you might be able to get quicker acess to alternative options click here.

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you think

Please tell us about your most recent experience at Sefton Sexual Health by completing our Friends and Family Test.

Free and
confidential

Sefton Sexual Health offers a free and confidential service in clinics across Sefton.