Types of Clinics

There are different places you can go for a sexual health appointments in Hawke’s Bay including most GPs (doctors), Directions Youth Health Centre in Hastings, HBDHB (hospital) clinics in Napier and Hastings and school-based health clinics.

Sexual health services offered include:

• Sexual health advice and Information
• Contraception
• Free condoms
• STI checks
• Pregnancy tests
• Pregnancy advice
• Referral to the hospital if needed

GP (Doctor) Clinics

Most GP (doctor) clinics in Hawke’s Bay provide free sexual health services to people aged 20 and under.

To find out which doctors offer free sexual health visits, go to the Clinic Finder.

Free sexual health services are available at GPs if you are:

• 20 years old and under and live in Hastings, Napier or CHB
• 24 years old and under and live in Wairoa

You will need to make an appointment to see a doctor for a sexual health visit unless the clinic allows drop-ins. Some doctors are happy to see casual (non-enrolled) patients while others will only see patients who are already enrolled with their practice – check out each doctor’s listing in the Clinic Finder for more information.

Some doctor’s clinics have nurses who provide sexual health checks. If you would rather be seen by a nurse, you will need to tell the receptionist when you make an appointment.

If you see the doctor or nurse for sexual health reasons and in the same visit want to discuss other health issues, such as a chest pain, you will be charged for the visit.

HBDHB (Hospital) Clinics

The Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) provides free sexual health services for people of all ages. Services are provided by specialist clinicians with advanced sexual health training. Services include:

• Basic STI screening
• Contraception, including long-acting reversible contraceptives
• Pregnancy testing
• STI counselling and advice
• Complex case management and specialist care and treatment

Clinics are run daily in Napier at the Napier Health Centre, fortnightly in Hastings, and as needed in CHB. It’s a good idea to make an appointment but drop ins are welcome and will be seen as soon as possible. For more information and contact details, go to the Clinic Finder

Directions Youth Health Centre

Directions Youth Health Centre provides FREE youth health services for young people aged between 10 and 24 years.

Through Directions you can access our nurse clinics at both Hastings and Napier. If our nurses are unable to provide the care you need they will make an appointment for you with one of our doctors (doctor clinics are on Tuesdays in Hastings).

Our nurses and doctors can help you with:

• Taking care of all of your health concerns
• STI checks and treatment, pregnancy tests, condoms
• Jadelle & IUD nurse assessments – Jadelle & IUD implants and removals
• Talking about and starting contraception

We operate Monday to Friday from Hastings (305 Omahu Road, Hastings) and have nurse clinics in Napier on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons (Napier Health Centre). Appointments are required and can be made through our Hastings office (871 5307).

School-based Health Clinics

Public health nurses run student health clinics in nearly all Hawke’s Bay secondary schools. In some schools (Hastings Girls, Hastings Boys, Wairoa College, Flaxmere College, William Colenso College and Te Aute College), nurses are available in the health clinics most days to see students about any sexual health issue. There is also a doctor service available in these schools and at Hukarere Girls College. In most other schools public health nurses run clinics once or twice per week.

All nurses are experienced youth health nurses and are able to provide students with sexual health information, advice, contraception and treatment for uncomplicated sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Your school office, school counsellor or dean will be able to tell you when the student health clinics are run at your school.

All clinics are confidential and free for enrolled students.

Sexual Assault and Assessment Treatment Service

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. Hawke’s Bay’s Sexual Assault Assessment and Treatment Service (SAATS) provides safe, appropriate and timely support for victims of sexual assault or abuse. The SAATS service is free and you can refer yourself, or be referred through Police, crisis support/counselling, CYFs, or other medical services. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Service is run by dedicated specially-trained staff who are specialists in the field of sexual assault and understand the many impacts of sexual assault.

SAATS provides follow up care and access to treatment and other services. SAATS is part of the HBDHB’s existing sexual health services, which ensures our clients are provided with the highest level of care.

To contact SAATS, call 027434 1052 or the HB Sexual Health Service on 8341 815 ext 4240 (Monday – Friday, 8.30 – 5.00).