The chlamydia screening programme for North East Lincolnshire, (COAST), has received praise from Whitehall for the way it  has been engaging with young people in the area and involving them in the chlamydia screening programme. 

COAST recently featured in the cabinet office newsletter, which is distributed across all government departments both in Whitehall and other government regions.  

The newsletter showcases services which carry out pioneering work across public services, typically using innovative techniques and approaches to understand and respond to the needs of local people.

The newsletter featured COAST as an example of best practice in involving young people in the design and marketing of services.  COAST was the only NHS service featured in the newsletter. 

The praise from Whitehall follows the successful “P 4 Pants” campaign in which young people were givena pair of specially designed underwear with a sexual health message woven into the waistband in exchange for a urine sample.  In the first two weeks of the campaign, over 700 tests were performed.  

Paul Watson, COAST programme manager, said:

“We are really pleased to have been highlighted by the cabinet office as an area of outstanding innovation.  We have taken great care to ensure that the programme reflects the involvement of young people in all aspects of the work we do.

“The team really deserve this accolade as they work tirelessly to ensure that the care we provide is of the highest standard.  We have certainly learned that, as far as young people are concerned, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.”