Education chiefs will discuss with health leaders the idea of providing condom machines for sixth form students.

At the moment, students at University College Isle of Man can access condoms via student services, but schools do not provide sixth-form students with them, said Education Minister Graham Cregeen.

At last week’s sitting of the House of Keys, Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) raised the issue of contraception provision and advice in the island’s sixth form facilities.

He said the decision was made in the past not to put condom vending machines in the male toilets at UCM, formerly the Isle of Man College, or school sixth forms. But in 2014, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended ’better provision’.

Dr Allinson asked Mr Cregeen if he would be willing to meet the Department of Health to look again at providing vending machines.

Mr Cregeen said: ’This is something that we are keen to work on with our colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care.

’Evidence is out there that provision of condoms does actually assist and sometimes delay people having sex, so it is something that, with our colleagues, we will be investigating.’

Mr Cregeen outlined the current situation on education and services with regards to contraception.

All secondary schools provide sex relation education (SRE) via personal, social and health education (PSHE).

’Contraception education is a topic that is also covered within the SRE at an-age appropriate level throughout the school.

’In general, PSHE education is delivered by staff within the school and, where possible, schools will access outside speakers, specialists and health professionals to enrich provision. This specialist input comes from school nurses, family planning and the genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic and also trained advisors and staff within the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.’

Schools do not normally provide condoms to sixth formers.

’This falls within the remit of those agencies mentioned, which work closely with schools to ensure a comprehensive level of pastoral guidance and support is offered,’ he said.

The GUM service has run clinics at University College Isle of Man, where students have samples to test for infections.

’Condoms are available to students throughout student services by request,’ Mr Cregeen added.

’Two college-wide events a year are also run where condoms are given out. Every student will also be given a condom during SRE tutorials.’

In response to a separate question from Dr Allinson, Health Minister David Ashford confirmed that oral medication emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) was available directly from pharmacies, as well as from GPs, a nurse prescriber, the GUM clinic, Manx Emergency Doctor Service or the accident and emergency department.

So far in the current financial year, emergency hormonal contraception has been provided 1,523 times, while there have been 121 GP prescriptions.

Dr Allinson said he also wanted to highlight that ’although it used to be called the "morning after pill", ellaOne can be used up to five days after unprotected sex’.