The community nurse

What questions can I ask the community nurse?

You can meet with the community nurse if you have issues relating to health or other aspects of your well-being, which you would like to discuss in peace and in confidence with a health professional. You do not have to tell the nurse your name or give any other details.

The Pro Centre Finland nurse has professional healthcare qualifications. If necessary, the nurse may refer you to a doctor, who can be consulted every Thursday in the drop-in.

Pro Centre Finland nurses have expertise in questions related to sex work. If you want you can ask about sexually transmitted infections and their prevention, contraception, or other health-related issues. At the centre you can also discuss drug use or talk to the community nurse about your mental well-being and how you are coping.  With our nurses you can discuss safer sex and safety during sex work - but the issues you bring to the health services do not have to be linked to sex work.

The community nurse can give you advice on Finnish health services and can accompany you if you want to deal with health issues outside of the Pro Centre Finland support centre. At services outside of Pro Centre Finland you do not have to tell anyone that your support worker is from Pro Centre Finland.

How can I contact the community nurse?

You can contact the Pro Centre Finland community nurse without an appointment during drop-in opening hours, or by Appointment servicesmaking an appointment outside these times. You can also telephone or email our community nurse for an answer to your question. Pro Centre Finland's health work is also carried out in “Mesta”, a place in the Kallio area of Helsinki.

You can speak to the Pro Centre Finland community nurse in Finnish,  English, Estonian and Russian.

When should I make an appointment?

It's worth making an appointment if you want to discuss your health issues in your own time or you feel that dealing with your concerns could take a while. It's also worth making an appointment if you are nervous about having, for example, HIV, syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhoea tests, so that you can talk to the nurse before and after the tests. During drop-in opening hours, the community nurse is available with no need for an appointment, but time is restricted as there are many service users.

Acupuncture

The Helsinki Pro Centre Finland community nurse offers acupuncture treatment on Wednesdays. In acupuncture treatment thin needles are inserted into acupuncture points, which have an effect on the nerve endings at those points. The type of acupuncture carried out at Pro Centre Finland is Five Element Acupuncture. It is relaxing and can ease various pains. Some people find it can help with drug withdrawal symptoms.

The following things are available from the Pro Centre Finland community nurse free of charge and anonymously:

• HIV testing
• Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis testing
• Pregnancy testing
• Hepatitis B vaccinations

The drop-in services can also provide you with:

• Condoms
• Lubricants
• New needles and syringes in exchange for used ones.

The doctor

The Pro Centre Finland doctor is available for consultation at the crisis centre once a week. The community nurse may refer you to the doctor if, for example, you need a prescription for medication.

You can discuss your illnesses and health issues in complete confidence with our doctor. The doctor will help you in identifying, treating and preventing infections. You can also discuss healthy living habits with the doctor.

The doctor will diagnose infections after consultation and discussion of symptoms, and will recommend appropriate treatment. If necessary the doctor may also write you a prescription or refer you to a specialist doctor or hospital. 

You do not have to tell the doctor your name or show your papers. The doctor only needs your name if you need a referral or prescription, but will not keep these details. Pro Centre Finland does not keep a register of service users.

You can speak to the Pro Centre Finland doctor in Finnish,  English and Spanish.