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We’re not chlamydia capital
• CONTRARY to recent newspaper reports, it is unfair to label Camden as the ‘Chlamydia Capital’ according to the local Primary Care Trust.
Camden Primary Care Trust (PCT) is contacting the press to explain how this error came about.
The reported figures were based on diagnoses from people attending our clinics, rather than resident populations.
As Camden hosts some of the largest sexual health services in the country, treating people from all over London and further afield not just those resident in Camden, figures for these services will inevitably be high. The services are hosted at Mortimer Market, Archway Sexual Health Clinic and the Royal Free Hospital.
Rather than these data suggesting that Camden is the chlamydia capital of England, it rather reflects the success of Camden in offering very patient friendly genitourinary services that are effective in treating those at high risk of sexually transmitted infections.
The patient flow for these services shows (average from Health Protection Agency analysis) that the number of Camden residents attending Mortimer Market is less than 20 per cent of total number of patients attending, Archway less than 10 per cent (six to nine per cent), and the Royal Free about 40 per cent.
Whilst Camden PCT hosts some of the largest sexual health services in the country, and treats many people with chlamydia, it is an incorrect message to label Camden as the “Chlamydia capital”.
CLAIRE TORKINGTON
Camden PCT
St Pancras Way, NW1
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