Putney excluded from Chlamydia screening?

I welcome the drive by Wandsworth Primary Care Trust - the major NHS provider in our area, to offer free Chlamydia screening to 15-24s across the borough. But while GPs and pharmacies will be offering the tests, there is not a lead testing centre in the Putney area - they are all in Tooting and Battersea.

I've written to the PCT asking why Putney isn't getting the same priority as Battersea, Balham and Tooting - after all, while Queen Mary's isn't a full general hospital it could certainly be used as a centre for this screening drive - especially as the area surrounding Queen Mary's has the highest proportion of young people in the constituency.

Chlamydia is a common, curable, sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria that often has no visible symptoms. If left untreated the infection can lead to serious health complications in men and women, not least infertility. Anyone who has unprotected sex could have the infection and not even realise it, so it's worth taking advantage of this free service.

To find out how to get a free Chlamydia test please contact the Chlamydia Screening Helpline on 0845 155 0042.