Youth Health Service
The Youth Health Service (YHS), 73 Shandon Street, Cork City
The YHS is a free, non judgemental sexual health & counselling service for young people aged 20 and under. YHS offers an STI clinic, Family Planning (contraceptive) clinic, pregnancy testing, 3-option Crisis Pregnancy counselling, post-abortion counselling and post-abortion medical check-ups.
For further details on services and to check opening times Tel: 0214- 220-490 or 0214- 220-491
Location: The Youth Health Service is located at the base of the hill on Shandon Street. Address: 73 Shandon Street, Cork City
How to make an appointment: The quickest way to make an appointment is to telephone 0214-220490 or 0214-220491 or to call in during opening times. You can leave a message and your call will be answered on the next working day. You can expect to get an appointment within 2 working days for post abortion counseling and within one week for a post-abortion medical checkup. However, appointments can sometimes be offered on the same day if there are vacancies when someone simply drops into the service.
Post abortion counseling is available during the following times:
Mondays 8.30am - 1.00pm
Wednesdays 11.00am - 4.45pm
Thursdays 11.00am - 7.30pm
Post -abortion medical check-ups are available during the following times when our family planning doctor is on-site:
Mondays 9.00am - 2.00pm
Thursdays 9.00am - 12.00pm
We do not operate weekend medical appointments.
How to get here: The YHS is located at the base of Shandon Street hill. There is limited off-street parking nearby (along Pope's Quay) so you are advised to park across the bridge in the city or in the nearby North Main Street (Dunnes) car-park. You may purchase parking discs from shops on Shandon Street or on nearby Pope's Quay. There is no bus service operating up and down Shandon Street. However, we are only a 10 minute walk from the city centre and a 15 minute walk from the main bus station. If arriving by bus to the central bus office in Parnell Place, walk down the quays in the direction of the Opera House until you reach the Gate Cinema (at the top of North Main Street). Cross the bridge by the Gate Cinema and we are a few doors to the right of O'Connor's Funeral Home, next door to Shandon Street Hospital. Please call and we can direct you if you get lost.
When you get here: On arrival ring the doorbell in the lobby and you will be granted entry to reception. A receptionist or the service coordinator will take your name to notify the doctor or counselor of your arrival and will take your basic details in a more private area of reception. The reception area itself is open and other clients may be seated there, especially during clinic times. Waiting time for the counsellor is only a matter a minutes after arrival. Waiting time for the doctor can sometimes be longer as certain consultations take more time.
Who can attend: You may bring a partner, a friend or a family member with you. Counselling/and or support is also available to them if it is needed. In the initial session you may be asked to see the counsellor on your own for short period of time (20mins max).You can then decide to continue the session on your own or invite your partner/friend or family member to rejoin you in the session.
Who provides the counselling: Counselling is provided by a professionally trained crisis pregnancy counsellor, who is also an accredited counsellor.
Post-abortion medical check ups: Post-abortion medical check-ups are provided by a doctor serving with the Cork Family Planning Clinic. It is advisable to have a post-abortion medical check-up two weeks after an abortion to make sure that you have fully recovered.
