iPod tempter to take sexual health test
Youngsters enticed with iPods and Wii's
PRIZES are being used to entice city youngsters to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases – at the public's expense, says the TaxPayers' Alliance.
NHS Milton Keynes is offering the Nintendo Wii and Apple iPods to coax people to be tested for chlamydia by inviting them to enter a free prize draw for the goodies.
But TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott challenged the
scheme's ethics and said the desire to stay healthy should be motivation enough to take the test.
Speaking exclusively to the Citizen yesterday, he said:"Taxpayers already foot the bill for the NHS so they shouldn't have to pay twice
to bribe people to come in for testing.
"Staying healthy should be enough of an incentive for people to come in for testing, they shouldn't need to be bribed by the opportunity to
win high-end electrical goods."
But NHS Milton Keynes stood by its decision to launch the campaign,
emphasising that it is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection.
Communications and engagement manager Leigh Kendall said: "NHS Milton
Keynes is always looking at ways ofencouraging people to get tested.
"Chlamydia awareness and testing is specifically focused on young people
under the age of 25, with the concept that if they are aware of the condition and get tested at least once a year, treatment if they do have it is quick and easy.
"Health services acrossthe country have used incentives to encourage peoplel of all ages toparticipate in health initiatives. It works."
She explained the test is "free, easy and completely confidential" and the kit can be postedout by visiting the website at www.gettestedmk.nhs.uk
She added: "Small incentives not only increase testing rates but they also save the health service funding in the long term.
Funding an iPod as an incentive costs much less than treating a
couple where one had had untreated chlamydia for IVF
in the future."
But Mr Elliott disagreed, saying: "Not only is this scheme financially unsustainable in the present economic climate, it is morally indefensible."
The initiative follows a national screening programme introduced in 2003
with health bosses concerned at the increasing number of youngsters contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Cases of chlamydia, especially,have risen among the under 16s.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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