Due to COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, LiSH services are unable to provide their regular clinics.  All contact with patients will be made through our central booking line 01522 309309 (8am – 7.30pm Monday – Friday). Before ringing LiSH, please see the Q&A section below which may address your issue. 

Due to new government guidance face coverings are to be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained. Therefore all patients who attend LiSH are required to have a face covering. 

Patients who do attend without prior triage will not be seen to protect our staff and vulnerable client groups. If you have a need that is not urgent, please consider whether this can wait until the coronavirus outbreak is over.

If you are under 25 and want STI testing, please click here.

We offer a free text service for sexual health questions and advice (Lincolnshire residents, aged 13-19): Text 07520 649893

Emergency Contraception (age 20 and over) is available at community pharmacies (for example, Co-op Pharmacy) but we recommend phoning ahead of your visit to find out their opening times and access to services. Those under 20 should call our central booking line 01522 309309 (8am – 7.30pm Monday – Friday).

PrEP Impact Trial participants: New enrolment into the trial has currently been paused. However we continue supply of PrEP medicine for those already registered on the trial with us. Because of restrictions being placed on service provision, we are not currently able to provide clinic-based HIV testing or screening. Users can request HIV self-testing/sampling kits through third party websites such as Terrence Higgins Trust if they wish until further notice.

Questions and Answers:

I was advised over the phone to try certain medicines from the pharmacy. However, I was told to ring back if the symptoms did not disappear. What should I do now?  

Please contact us again (01522 309309) as you need to speak to a clinician who can assess you symptoms/problem over the phone again (or video consultation if necessary). Clinician will then advise further management plan (e.g. alternative treatment) or you may be signposted/referred to other services as appropriate. You may be requested to attend the clinic in person if your symptoms are severe enough or require more urgent attention for further assessment/tests/investigations.

I have been treated for warts but the treatment was stopped in the middle due to COVID. May I start it again with LiSH?

We have temporarily suspended routine face-to-face appointments for treatment of uncomplicated or recurrent warts, particularly cryotherapy or freezing treatment. You can discuss your problem with a clinician on a telephone consultation. Home treatment (creams, solution) can be prescribed remotely if we are confident about the diagnosis. We may request you to send clinical photos of your warts for remote assessment or organise a video consultation if you are unsure about your problem. Face- to-face appointments are currently reserved for patients with complex warts (e.g. blocking water pipes) or pregnant women who cannot take home treatment.

I think I have been in contact with someone who has an STI (or I suspect this). What should I do?

First of all, we need to know the specific type of infection you’ve been in contact with to formulate a correct management plan for you (for example, evidence of positive results from your partner). We may need to ask you for your partner’s/contact’s personal details (name, date of birth, mobile number) so as to be able to confirm/verify your partner’s positive test results. This may require contacting other sexual health services your partner has attended for their positive tests (contact tracing).

I have received my smear results but do not understand them. I have been sent to you from my GP for clarification. How do I proceed?

Your GPs are usually the best source of further information related to cervical smear/screening results. It is also possible that your GPs are referring to us because of specific abnormalities on your smear results which might be related/caused by STIs. We would thus appreciate if you could ask your GP to send in a formal referral letter to us explaining the reason(s) for referral if possible. If not, we’d ask your permission to view the results under question on official smear report system and will do our best to explain the results and answer your questions.

I think I have a water infection, what should I do?

This needs further exploration as symptoms of water infection (example, burning urination) are non-specific and can also be caused by STIs in sexually active persons (such as chlamydia and gonorrhea). If you think you are at risk of an STI, please contact us (or) request an online testing kits via ‘free and clear’. We can offer a telephone consultation if you prefer to talk to a sexual health practitioner about your symptoms/problem first. We recommend against indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat presumed water infection (without definitive proof) as this approach can mask the undiagnosed STI and can consequently delay the appropriate treatment.

My thrush won’t go away even though I have had over the counter treatment. What should I do?  

Firstly, your symptoms may not be due to a thrush infection at all because there are other infections including STI which can also cause similar symptoms. Secondly, you may have certain types of thrush infections which are more difficult to treat than usual types. Or, thirdly you may have specific medical problems which make your thrush infection more resistant to treatment or easily recur once you stop the treatment. You can request a telephone consultation appointment with one of our clinician to go through your symptoms to decide next course of action which may require you attending one of our clinics for more detailed assessment and tests.

I am in a new relationship and would like to be tested. What should I do?

We would recommend routine STI screening/testing for both of you. You can request a free online STI testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea (free and clear) if you are 15-24 years old. If you are over 25 or have symptoms suggestive of an STI (for example, burning urination, genital discharge, genital pain, genital ulcerations) please talk to us first as we may be able to give advice over the phone or arrange a face to face appointment for more assessment/testing. Presently, free online HIV testing option has also become available via https://Freetesting.HIV which also provide option to test for syphilis. We are happy to talk to you if you have any specific issues or concerns regarding testing/screening.

It's free and easy to get your home STI Test...

(for 15 - 24 year olds)