Genito Urinary Medicine Department (FOI)

Request

I’d like to find out the following details about the Genito Urinary Medicine Department (GUM) in Jersey, under the Freedom of Information Act.

A

Why does the GUM clinic in Jersey use paper records?

B

What difficulties do staff face in trying to find historic records connected to current testing?

I understand a paper system is used.

C

How much would it cost / how easy would it be to install a secure, digital server?

D

How many people requested a screening in 2016?

Please break down by tests for Chlamydia, HIV and other STIs.

E

How many results were positive?

Please break down by tests for Chlamydia, HIV and other STIs.

Response

A

At the moment the Jersey Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) service does not have access to a confidential IT database / support system.

B

GUM patients details are filed under unique GUM numbers which are recorded in paper ledgers. If a patient cannot remember their GUM number (and the majority of patients cannot remember their number) staff have to search for their name in the ledger in order to find their number. Depending on how long ago the patients first registered at the clinic will determine how far back the staff have to search in the register. The registers go back more than ten years. Once the GUM number is found the notes are then retrieved from the locked filing cabinets. 

C

The price of a confidential IT GUM software system is approximately £25,000 - £30,000, depending on the system, plus annual software support costs which will be related to whichever system is in place. Various systems are in place in UK centres so quotes could be obtained and advice sort from the IT department on how best to implement this ensure confidentiality.

D

2,756 people attended the GUM clinic in 2016, 1,810 of these were attending for new episodes and all new episodes would have been offered a full STI screen consisting of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. As expected the vast majority of attenders take up this offer. Further tests can also be offered depending on the situation. Some of the follow up patients would be attending for repeat tests.

E

Positive STI diagnosis in GUM 2016:

• chlamydia 108

• gonorrhoea 15

• genital herpes 48

• genital warts 100

• HIV 0

• infectious Syphilis <10 (numbers <10 are not quantified for the purposes of confidentiality).

These exclude infections that are diagnosed in other areas such as GPs, wards and clinics which are then referred on to the GUM service. Newly diagnosed HIV patients are referred directly to the Blood Borne Virus service for continuing care.