Borehamwood is to gain an extra weekly family planning clinic as early as the new year in a bid to curb the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies.

As part of a major shake-up of services, West Hertfordshire health bosses are planning to put on an extra weekly advice session in the town to complement the existing Tuesday evening at Elstree Way Clinic.

Following a review of services across the region, West Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust says by closing the poorly-attended clinics and scrapping sessions at others it can cut costs and target resources where they are most needed.

The proposals are aimed at targeting the service more effectively at under 25s to meet the Government's target of reducing teenage pregnancies by 50 per cent before the year 2000.

But family planning staff have consulted their union after learning of the proposed cuts -- aimed at shaving £50,000 of the trust's annual budget and which could mean the loss of up to ten part-time jobs.

The bad news for clinics at Berkhamstead, Harpenden, Tring and Rickmansworth is good news for Borehamwood and South Oxhey where research has shown that the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies is likely to be high in those areas.

Borehamwood is reckoned to have one of the worst figures for social deprivation in the county, according to the Jarman Index published in 1995.

Trust business development manager Barbara Suggitt said the location and time of the new Borehamwood session would depend on the response to the plans, under public consultation until October.

The final decision will be taken by the board of West Hertfordshire Health Authority.

"It is good news for Borehamwood. It's important to say this is not just about saving money, but about targeting the resources where they are most needed," said Mrs Suggitt.

Figures show the Borehamwood clinic received an average of 24 visitors between April 1997 and 1998, compared with three in Rickmansworth and six in Tring.

Mrs Suggitt said although attendances were not particularly high compared with larger towns such as Hemel Hempstead, the trust was confident a well-publicised and expanded service in Borehamwood would be well-used.

"We are trying to get more equality and to deliver the service to some people who have not had it before," she said.

Mrs Suggitt said clinics gave people a more anonymous alternative to seeking family planning advice from their GP.

Health bosses hope the restructuring of the service will help them work more closely with Sexually Transmitted Infections clinics, Hertfordshire County Council's Youth and Community Services and Schools. Even if four clinics were closed there would still be clinics nearby, Mrs Suggitt added.

The family planning clinic at Elstree Way clinic is open each Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8pm. Copies of Family Planning Services in West Hertfordshire: Changing the Focus is available in all libraries and reaction should be sent to Sheilagh Reavey, West Herts Community Health NHS Trust, 99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TL.

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