Project co-ordinator for NHS Lanarkshire’s Condom Distribution Scheme, Carol Rattray, has made the shortlist for this year’s People’s Choice Award at the Scottish Health Awards.
Having worked for NHS Lanarkshire for over 40 years, Carol was nominated for the award as a result of the work she carried out during the pandemic to set up the successful Condoms by Post service. The service ensured condom provision continued throughout the pandemic, when there was disruption to usual condom outlets.
Carol has also worked with organisations such as food banks and charities that were delivering hot meals to people’s doors, and enabling them to also provide free condoms.
To help spread important information, Carol used social media platforms to launch a seven-week campaign which saw around 1,500 people ask for condoms.
Carol was aware that young people are the most affected by sexually transmitted infections and with the sudden service disruption, the risk of people contracting an infection or having an unintended pregnancy was likely to increase. She was also acutely aware of health inequalities and the cost of buying condoms, particularly during the pandemic when many were losing their jobs.
Reviewing the postcodes in which deliveries were made, in relation to Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) data, this showed that the campaign was successful in targeting people from our most deprived areas in Lanarkshire.
The People’s Choice Award is a public vote, so please vote for Carol using the below link:
https://scottishhealthawards.com/2022/en/page/pca
Voting closes on Sunday 16 October, and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 3.
