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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 25 July 2008

Bid to base sexual health clinic in old snooker hall

£2m move sparked by criticism of existing cramped centre

HEALTH chiefs hope to turn a former snooker club building into the largest sexual health clinic in the country.
The new clinic – at the former Archway Snooker Club in Holloway Road, which closed last year – will handle more than 40,000 patients seeking abortion advice, contraception and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
The move follows a damning report on the existing Archway Sexual Health Clinic at Whittington Hospital.
The report found that cramped conditions had led to a serious assault and a patient fainting, hitting her head and breaking her teeth.
The review, by the Medical Foundation for Sexual Health and HIV, revealed:
l The clinic was extremely cramped with poor heating and ventilation.
l Clinical rooms are extremely small and do not meet the basic requirements of patients and staff.
l Rooms are used inappropriately to store notes and equipment.
The report concluded: “Considering the very high demand for service, the review team strongly endorses the need to improve the current accommodation.”
Patient appointments for genito-urinary medicine in Islington have doubled since October last year.
The Archway clinic, used by patients across London, is managed by Camden Primary Care Trust.
Nikki Penny, head of sexual health services at Camden PCT, said that, after an exhaustive search of vacant buildings, including North Star House in Holloway Road and Hill House in Highgate, health chiefs had decided the snooker club was the most “desirable location” for a new centre.
But she added: “The lighting will present some challenges, which the architects are working with us to resolve.”
Ms Penny put the cost of moving the centre at £2million but said an increase in patient numbers would raise profits by more than £450,000 a year.
Archway Snooker Centre closed last year after rising rents saw profits crash.

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