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A community healthcare provider in Essex has launched an online triage service for patients who are concerned about their sexual health.

A community healthcare provider in Essex has launched an online triage service for patients who are concerned about their sexual health.

Provide has created an online testing service for people who are worried about a sexually transmitted infection to determine whether they need to get tested. Information about contraception is also available.

People can use their mobile phone, tablet or laptop to answer a series of questions to assess their sexual risk profile and symptoms. The service will then advise people if they need further assistance.
Kez Spelman, sexual health nurse consultant at Provide, said: 'The most common sexually transmitted infection is often unnoticeable and easily treated. I would urge people to use this new service which can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from the Provide website.

'It will give many people reassurance without the need for a visit to a clinic. If your enquiry is about contraception, then information is also available, as well as details of what to do next.'

The resource was developed in conjunction with Time For Medicine, a company developing cloud-based approaches to healthcare.

John Niland, chief executive of Provide, said: 'We are delighted to launch this innovative and convenient service bringing healthcare closer to residents. It is in line with Provide's mission to engage technology for the benefit of the communities we serve'.

Provide is a social enterprise that delivers community healthcare services across Essex and Cambridge, Peterborough and North East London.