Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) was a pioneer for birth control in America for women who were living in poverty.
Margaret opened the first birth control clinic for women in 1916, which led to her being arrested for ‘distributing contraception information.
Margaret believed that women should have an equal footing in society and to lead healthier lives, they needed to detriment when to bear children.
She also wanted to prevent back-alley abortions which were common at the time.
Anna Murphy, partnership liaison manager at Nottinghamshire Healthcare, worked hard at the start of the project to set up Depo-Provera and made sure all the correct pathways and processes were in place.
The nurse leading the provision from The Health Shop began to offer it to women accessing a variety of specialist services across the city.
However, she soon realised that this wasn’t suitable for many of the women she saw due to the set criteria that allowed her to give Depo-Provera.
In addition to this, from listening to the women she saw, the lead nurse recognised that women wanted a choice of contraception, something which the trust could not do.
They wanted this provided by staff who understood their needs, in an environment they were comfortable in.
Some women experiencing SMD may have worked in the sex industry, have had children removed by social care, had multiple terminations, and been subjected to sexual abuse and trauma.
Many feel judged and shamed.
Discussing sexual health can be very difficult, especially when accessing mainstream services.
A partnership and pathway has been developed with Sexual Health Services Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, who set up a dedicated clinic run by two clinical prescribers offering full sexual health testing and treatment, and contraception, including the offer of all long acting reversible contraception methods and smear tests.
Women who experience SMD can be taken by the clinical nurse specialist to the dedicated clinic at Victoria Health Centre on one afternoon per month, where they will receive holistic Sexual Health Care in a safe, accessible space.
Beth Maloney, clinical nurse specialist at Nottinghamshire Healthcare said: “This has been a brilliant project to lead and work in partnership with Sexual Health Services Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Framework to offer the best care to our patients.
"The staff working at Sexual Health Services Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have been incredible.
"The reception team are so welcoming and the clinical staff who provide a variety of interventions are kind and patient and provide trauma informed care.”
The lead nurse has worked across a variety of services across the city providing training around long-acting reversible contraception, Project Margaret and supporting staff to make referrals.
Many of these referrals have come from the Nottingham Recovery Network, which is a Framework-led service but part of a partnership with Nottinghamshire Healthcare, Double Impact and Al-Hurraya.
Amy Eagle, care group director of community health and specialist services at Nottinghamshire Healthcare said: “We’re really proud to be leading this brilliant partnership project.
"The teams have worked together to provide the best possible service to vulnerable women, ensuring they get the support they need.
"Well done to all.”