Sexual Health Services - Redesign Consultation

For your views of the Services provided by our Sexual Health Service Providers, which areas for improvement should be prioritised and what you thought of our proposals.

We received a tremendous response, with 2,500 questionnaires submitted. There was strong support for our greater focus on outcomes. 90% of respondents agreed with the proposed outcomes to improve support for people vulnerable to/victim of sexual coercion, find and treat more young people with chlamydia, and reducing transmission of HIV, STIs and BBVs. 82% agreed with the priority outcome of fewer under 18s conceptions, and 77% with reducing the numbers of initial and repeat abortions. 71% agreed there was a need for a joined up, managed, sexual health system. 69% supported the proposal for GPs and Pharmacies to provide more sexual health services. 58% of respondents agreed with the suggestion to increase the role of voluntary organisations. There was broad support for locating clinics in the centre of the city, to the South and the North, with many responses focused on access; in terms of ensuring that (public) transport links and parking were good. There was a robust challenge to the shift away from intensive support for people with HIV. There were clearly expressed views that SRE in schools is important to future sexual health, and that the sexual health service/ system should have a role in supporting this

We have placed a greater emphasis on achieving the proposed outcomes, and particularly focusing the services to identify and support clients experiencing sexual exploitation and coercion. The re-commissioned service will place greater emphasis on the needs of the priority groups identified, including young people, men who have sex with men, sex workers, drug misusers, children in need, and those communities with higher risk. Many responses stated how difficult navigating and accessing the current system can be and the variation in provision. This will be addressed by creating a single city-wide system, with one lead organisation managing a number of partners. Many people highlighted the importance of Primary Care (GPs and Pharmacy) and third sector organisations as part of the system and this will be part of the new service. We will also be looking closely at the location and accessibility of services and insisting on outreach and in reach provision for priority groups, including work with schools and educational establishments. As a result of the Consultation, we have taken HIV support services out of this recommissioning of sexual health services and decided to look at this area separately, across the Council as a whole to ensure there is a coordinated approach to commissioning services in future. We will be using the more detailed feedback and responses from the consultation and engagement exercises to inform the development of future service quality standards and performance indicators used to monitor and manage contracts with Providers.