This page cannot diagnose symptoms or decide which tests or treatment you need. Service details were checked against the sources below on . That is a source check, not clinical review or confirmation of appointments available today.
When to seek urgent help
Call 112 or 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. HSE emergency guidance.
After a possible recent exposure to HIV, seek urgent professional assessment. The HSE says post-exposure prophylaxis, known as PEP, must begin as soon as possible and within 72 hours of exposure. A doctor or nurse decides whether it is appropriate. If it is not possible to get PEP through a public sexual health or infectious disease service within that time, the HSE advises attending an emergency department. Do not wait for symptoms or a postal test. Read current HSE PEP guidance.
After sexual assault, use the HSE Sexual Assault Treatment Unit contact information for care and support. The HSE asks people arranging their own attendance to phone their local SATU before arriving. Use 112 or 999 for a life-threatening emergency.
Finding current Waterford clinic information
Sexual Health Clinic, University Hospital Waterford
Dunmore Road, Co. Waterford.
Published telephone: 051 842 646
This listing was checked on 5 October 2026. It confirms what the HSE published, not whether an appointment is available today. Check the official directory again before arranging a visit.
This guide does not confirm opening hours, walk-in arrangements, referral requirements or the tests offered at a particular appointment. Contact the service about those details rather than travelling on the assumption that you can be seen. The routine clinic listing is not confirmation that it provides emergency or PEP care.
Questions to ask before you travel
You could start with: “I’m looking for information about STI testing in Waterford. How do I arrange an appointment, and who should I speak to about symptoms or a recent exposure?”
- Do I need to book, and is a referral required?
- What information should I bring, and exactly where should I attend?
- What preparation instructions apply to my appointment?
- Can you help with access needs, communication support or bringing someone with me?
- Are there any charges, what is included, and how is follow-up arranged?
Confirm the exact place to attend rather than relying on the hospital name alone. Use the provider’s preparation instructions instead of a general checklist from another clinic.
Symptoms and choosing a testing route
The HSE explains that many STIs cause no symptoms. Appearance and symptoms alone cannot establish whether someone has an STI; professional assessment and testing may be needed. Read HSE information about STIs and testing.
If you have symptoms, think you may have an STI or have been told that a partner has one, contact a GP or sexual health service for advice. Describe your symptoms or recent contact so they can advise on the next step. Do not use the absence of symptoms as reassurance after a possible exposure.
Ask a clinician which tests are appropriate, when to have them and whether you need follow-up testing. You do not need to choose a test panel from an online list before asking for help.
Home-testing information for Waterford residents
The HSE’s free home-testing service is available to people aged 17 or over who live in the Republic of Ireland. Its official information directs users to SH:24 for ordering and explains the process.
Read the current eligibility and ordering information rather than assuming every online test is part of this service. A postal kit is not a substitute for urgent assessment. The HSE advises contacting a GP or local sexual health clinic when urgent support is needed.
Read HSE home-testing informationConsider which delivery address is appropriate, whether anyone else can access your phone and how the provider will contact you. Check the provider’s information instead of relying on a general promise of discreet delivery.
Privacy and contact preferences
It is reasonable to ask how your information will be handled before sharing sensitive details. Ask what records the service keeps, who can access them, when information may be shared and how results are communicated.
You can ask whether the service can avoid voicemail, use a particular contact method or explain arrangements for people under 18. These are questions for the provider, not promises this guide can make on its behalf.
Home-testing privacy information should not be assumed to describe a hospital clinic’s arrangements. If you are worried that someone may see messages or letters, explain that concern when arranging care.
Results, follow-up and support
Before testing, ask how you will receive your results, whom to contact with questions and what to do if you have not heard back when the service told you to expect a response.
Ask a healthcare professional to explain your result and recommended next steps. The HSE notes that treatment depends on the infection and that a doctor or nurse can discuss informing partners when necessary. HSE results and partner information.
You can say that you feel anxious, are unsure how to contact a partner or are worried about doing so safely. Ask what support is available rather than assuming you must manage that conversation alone.
For current service arrangements, return to the HSE directory or contact the provider directly. Keep urgent-care needs separate from routine testing plans.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a Waterford appointment through STI.ie?
No. STI.ie is an independent guide and does not take clinic bookings. Contact the service directly using its official contact information.
Can I attend without an appointment?
Walk-in arrangements have not been verified for this guide. Check directly before travelling. Do not assume that a hospital-based clinic accepts unscheduled attendance.
Is testing free, and how long do results take?
The HSE describes its listed public sexual-health services as free. This does not establish charges at other providers. Ask your chosen service about costs and results arrangements; this guide does not promise a turnaround time.
Do I need symptoms before asking about an STI test?
No. The HSE explains that many STIs have no symptoms. Ask a healthcare professional about testing based on your concerns; appearance or symptoms alone cannot determine whether you have an STI.
Will my GP, family or partner be told?
This guide cannot promise a particular service's confidentiality arrangements. Ask who can access your records, when information may be shared and how results will be communicated. Explain any concern about messages, letters or shared devices before arranging care.
Should I order a home test after a possible recent HIV exposure?
Do not wait for a home test before seeking urgent professional assessment. The HSE says PEP must start as soon as possible and within 72 hours of exposure; a clinician determines whether it is appropriate.
Sources for the service, testing and PEP answers: HSE clinic directory, HSE STI information and HSE PEP guidance.
Sources and checking this guide
- HSE sexual health services and clinics: Waterford name, address, phone and public-service fee statement.
- HSE HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): urgent assessment and timing.
- HSE emergency care for adults: when to call 112 or 999.
- HSE SATU contacts: routes to support after sexual assault.
- HSE sexually transmitted infections: symptoms, testing and follow-up.
- HSE free home STI tests: eligibility, ordering and urgent-support caveat.
Sources checked 5 October 2026. Attendance arrangements and availability can change. Contact the provider before travelling. No clinical reviewer or service-specific confidentiality assurance is claimed.