Teenagers can face so many problems and often just don’t know who to trust or turn to for completely free, confidential advice and treatment on health related issues. Certain problems can leave us confused and panicked and sometimes we feel too embarrassed to contact someone for assistance. You may feel that your parents wouldn’t understand your situation or could be worried that your doctor will judge you or even tell your parents about your visit to the surgery. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to go somewhere without the hassle of having to find the phone number to book an appointment and have to wait and worry for days on end until the time arrives! It would be ideal to be able to subtly pop in somewhere, whilst out shopping where nobody knows you or the reason for your visit. Luckily there is a reliable place you can turn to if you need help, advice or treatment on a range of health and social issues. | Birmingham NHS Walk-in Centre is based on the lower ground floor of Boots the Chemist in Birmingham City Centre and is open seven days a week from 10am – 7.30pm. |
There are highly qualified nurses who are happy to speak to you and you don’t even need to make an appointment. You may have had unprotected sex and are now worrying about the possibility of pregnancy or think that there could be a risk that you have contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and need advice and/or treatment. It maybe that you are worried about being overweight, are concerned about skin problems, you may want to give up smoking or could be anxious about the amount of alcohol you’re drinking and the effect that it could be having on you.  | | Experienced staff are on hand to give confidential help and advice |
The Walk-In Centre also has a team of experienced people, who have often been in the same or similar situation who will speak to in confidence and advise you the best they can, offering you help and emotional support. It maybe that you’re struggling to come to terms with a bereavement, are worried about your financial situation, you have an addiction to gambling, or fear that could lose your home, or it could be that you are feeling stressed with exam pressures and the worry about results and just don’t know who to turn to. When you arrive at the Walk-In Centre, a receptionist will ask you for your name and details, purely for their own records. You can have a one-to-one talk with a nurse or advisor who will be able to treat or be of guidance to you. Everything you talk about with the nurse will be totally confidential and you can even request that your Doctor isn’t informed of your visit. If you don’t live in or near Birmingham, you can find an NHS Walk-In Centre in the Market Place in Walsall, or on the same site as Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.
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