More than 350 doctors protesting sexual health clinics closures

More than 350 doctors have signed a letter protesting the closure of two SHINE SA suburban clinics providing sexual health advice, warning of a spike in STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

More than 350 doctors have signed an open letter protesting the closure of two suburban sexual health clinics amid warnings it will lead to a spike in unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

Sexual health advisory service SHINE SA — which started as the Family Planning Association in 1970 — says a $547,000 annual funding cut announced in the State budget has forced it to close its Davoren Park and Noarlunga clinics from February.

This will leave it with public clinics in the city and at Woodville.

SHINE SA chief executive Natasha Miliotis said the budget included an average reduction in

government funding of 2 per cent to non-government organisations but the sexual

health sector was hit with cuts of up to 9.5 per cent.

“SHINE SA was (among) the hardest hit losing $547,000 per year,” she said.

“As direct result of the $547,000 per year funding decrease, we now unfortunately find ourselves forced to close two SHINE SA clinics plus the (city-based) HIV counselling service.

“Woodville and Hyde Street (city) services will continue to offer free, bulk-billed sexual health checks for young people under 30 and other communities of interest as published on our website.”

The doctors’ protest letter which has been sent to Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade has been signed by GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, emergency doctors and various other clinicians.

Group spokeswoman Dr Erin O’Connor said the clinics being closed were in areas of most need, and warned that people in those regions would not travel to the city for help and advice on sexual issues.

“We hope to meet the Minister to talk about our concerns,” Dr O’Connor said.

“There is a real danger of a rise in unplanned pregnancies and STIs as a result of these closures.”

Adelaide teenage pregnancy rate statistics from the latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report.

Mr Wade questioned SHINE SA’s decision, saying it was cutting services by 50 per cent in response to a 9 per cent budget cut.

“The Government does not accept that SHINE SA needs to reduce services — similar services interstate operate more cost effectively,” he said.

“Taxpayers expect value for money and all health services need to strive to be more cost effective.”

Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said the closures were a direct consequence of budget cuts and would have ramifications in years to come on the health system.

“These clinics provide a really important service and if people don’t have access to them we will see an increase in STIs and unplanned pregnancies that will put pressure on the health system,” he said.

“The loss of these services are going to hit the communities that need them most.

“Hundreds and hundreds of doctors are so outraged about what this means to their patients they have signed this letter, and we think it is incumbent on the Health Minister to reverse these cuts.”