About the Clinic
Ruth Padday, a GP working in Hedge End, attended a conference in 1994 in London about young people’s sexual health. As the young people in her area had no local provision for their specific needs and her practice had an available building adjacent to the surgery, it was felt that this would be an ideal opportunity to create a Teenage Drop-In clinic so that young people could have complete privacy and eliminate the embarrassment of meeting a neighbour or relative at the surgery. The Teenage Drop-In Centre (TADIC) opened in September 1995.
It became obvious that it was not only contraception and sexual health advice that was needed, there was also poor provision for emotional health needs. It was decided to employ a counsellor. The service started with a receptionist, doctor and nurse. The Clinic now employs 2 doctors, 4 nurses, 3 counsellors, a receptionist, and an administrator. It has a board of trustees.
The service has always been non-profit making but became a business limited by guarantee and now has charitable status.
Due to the nature of the funding and to keep to the Service Level Agreement, only clients from Hedge End and surrounding area (known as the Southern Parishes) can be seen. However, clients who reside outside of the chosen areas are not turned away and a young person would be seen and given support then referred onto another more appropriate agency.
The Teenage Drop-in Centre (TADIC) has excellent relationships with other organisations and network frequently. For example, The Youth Service based at the Box (outside Wildern School) and HYPE (outside Hamble School), Wildern and Hamble Schools, local general practices in the Southern Parishes, Hedge End Town council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire county council. We are respected by the local Contraception and Sexual Health services as well as the GUM services in Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth.
The TADIC staff now provide sex and relationship education in the two secondary schools in Southern parishes We also manage the counselling service for young people in Eastleigh.