Croydon has some of the highest rates of repeat abortions, sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies in the country, a new report has found.

Published by Healthwatch Croydon, the figures were gathered to expose what could be done to help youngsters get better access to sexual health services in the borough.

Teenage conception rates in the borough are 34.5 per cent 1,000, way above the national average of 24.3 per cent and the London average of 21.8.

Thornton Heath, Fieldway and New Addington have a higher average teenage conception rate compared to the rest of the borough, according to Public Health England data from between 2012 and 2014.

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Under 25s having repeat abortions are more frequent in Croydon - 36.5 per cent - than they are in London, where 32.2 per cent of women who have an abortion have had one before.

Croydon has some of the highest rates of diagnosed STIs among those aged between 15 and 24, which is “much higher” than the London and national average, according to the report.

Chlamydia diagnoses of those aged between 15 and 24 was 2739 per 100,000 in the borough, compared to 2178 in the capital as a whole.

Healthwatch Croydon carried out the survey as a way of informing the borough’s health authorities on teenage sexual health.

Jai Jayaraman, Healthwatch Croydon chief executive, said that with the local authority they will set up joint workshop with teenagers to help inform the future of delivering the service.

He said: “Croydon has some of the most challenging statistics in London for teenage sexual health.

“Before publication [of the report], we shared this report and discussed our observations with Croydon Council’s Public Health team.

“They have responded very positively to our considerations and a recommendation for more teenage service user involvement in designing services.

“As a result, we have agreed to deliver with them a joint workshop with teenagers to understand more about these issues.

“It is anticipated that insights from this this will deliver services reflecting teenager’s needs and, hopefully, bring better health outcomes as a result.”

The report raises issues about the accessibility of advertising sexual health services for youngsters, and challenges for the authorities in understanding their needs.

More relevant help and support should be available to encourage teenagers to use sexual health services for the first time, the report reads.

It adds: “Fear of being judged, nervousness, awkwardness and lack of confidence are barriers to accessing services.

“Confidentiality is also a key issue with information being shared with parents or GPs, or an open reception area.”

Concerns were raised on how well staff treated and understood teenagers using services.

Specialists are focused on giving teens opinions on lifestyle choices rather than understanding their needs, the report found.

Long waiting times, short and inconvenient opening times and crowded waiting rooms were other points raised.

Youngsters can access sexual health services at their doctors’ surgery, or at the two sexual health clinics: the Contraceptive and Sexual Health Service and the centre at Croydon University Hospital.

A confidential scheme called C-Card allows 13 to 24-year-olds to pick up free condoms after being given lessons on how to use them.

The borough's Young People's Sexual Health team visits 14 schools in the borough, those in wards with the highest levels of teen pregnancy, to educate classes on sexual health, relationships and choices.

Councillor Louisa Woodley, cabinet member for families, health and social care, said: “The findings from Healthwatch Croydon’s report will be helpful for the ongoing improvements to local sexual health services to ensure that they continue meeting users’ needs.

“We are in the process of redesigning services to be fully integrated and better focused on prevention and provision in the community, with the aim of having contraception and STI treatments available at all sites.

“We especially welcome the report’s recommendation to increase the engagement of service users with any planned changes to what’s on offer.”