An NHS religious and cultural male circumcision service: service users' views and experiences

An NHS male circumcision service has been established for Muslim families in Tower Hamlets, London. Boys in the area have usually been circumcised when aged between five and 11, by unregulated private practitioners. The new service is offered to boys aged under five months. A charge is made. An evaluation (20 semi-structured interviews with parents and five with staff) found that it was the expectation of a safe and high-quality service that had mostly influenced parents to use the service. Nearly all thought that circumcision was best carried out at any early stage, because of reduced pain and greater safety. Almost all service users commented on how helpful, reassuring and informative staff were. Most said that they would use the service again, and over half had already recommended the service to others. This small study highlights how a public sector organisation can be responsive to its community.