Sexual health risk to teenagers as Tories block NHS clinic in row over poster

12.56.47pm GMT Thu 20th Nov 2003

Councillor Stephen Knight

A partnership project between the NHS and Richmond Council's Youth Service aimed at cutting teenage pregnancy and improving the sexual health of under 19s has been blocked by Richmond Tories. It was due to start at Heatham House youth centre on 4th November.

In response to a question from Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Knight at last night's Council meeting, Tory Cabinet Member Hilary Smith claimed the clinic's opening had been delayed due to concern about how it would be viewed by parents, who's views she said were as important as the service to their teenage daughters and sons. She was particularly concerned about the advertising poster that had been developed by young people, in partnership with the NHS, for the scheme. She claimed that the poster, which aimed to make the clinic look informal, non-clinical and accessible to young people, did not distance it from the Council sufficiently.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Knight said: "I'm horrified that young people's health is being put at risk by this delay because of a petty row over the design of a poster. I would have thought that it was perfectly sensible for young people themselves to know how to best advertise a service to young people. As a parent of a teenage daughter myself, I know how worrying a time it can be, but the Tories must learn to put the health of young people above any prudish concerns."