We call on the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to increase funding to the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. This increased funding should be directed towards improving sexual health services for the Western Vale.

Additional Information:

Currently only one clinic is held once a week every Friday lunchtime in Llantwit Major. This clinic serves the whole of the Western Vale. This clinic gives sexual health advice and family planning services. This service is not adequate to meet the needs of this large geographical area. The town of Barry alone has 3 clinics/week.Help us to improve the sexual health of many young and vulnerable people who are often unable to travel 10 miles or further to a local clinic. These clinics offer the vital information/education/support/medical treatment that young people need. improving sexual health services can help guide, support and care for the most vulnerable groups within our society. Please help us make a difference.  Although teenage pregnancy rates are declining, abortion rates are rising (as cited by Helen Rogers Director of the Royal college of midwives, source BBC Wales 29/03/12) WAG in response to this report promised increased funding via public health wales to improve access to integrated sexual health centres (BBC Wales 29/03/12) These vulnerable young people often from households which are deprived, do not receive the care they need. Had these young people lived in Barry, they would have received a much improved service. The rural vale is often dismissed as being "affluent" real pockets of socio-economic deprivation exist within this area. More clinics are needed. Wales wants a "World Class Health Service" built for the future. These young people are our future. Teenage pregnancy/abortion can have wide reaching detrimental effects on our young people. Sexually transmitted diseases are preventable if people get the right information.

Petition raised by: Rebecca Lowrie

Date petition first considered by Committee:  29 January 2013

Number of signatures: 16

The Committee considered this petition on 23 February 2016 under Agenda Item 4 – Petitions Proposed for Closure, and agreed to close the petition.