Agenda item

[To evaluate the priorities identified in the sexual health consultation with a view to endorsing Public Health’s proposals to procure new sexual health services.]

Katie Spence, Consultant in Public Health, and Ravi Seehra, Commissioning Officer, presented the sexual health consultation report. They provided an overview of the consultation noting that they were pleased to have engaged with a range of groups, such as young people, GPs, the voluntary sector and medical professionals. An extensive consultation ran from a variety of different locations with health partners to establish how best to improve services in the area.

The Commissioning Officer explained that the Public Health aim to commission an integrated service that uses modern technology. There is a need to develop a robust offer to vulnerable groups and this must be supported by the use of social marketing, which can help remove the stigma of service. The next phase of work is for the GUM and CASH aspect of the proposal to go out to tender in July. Further work will be done in the meantime to engage GPs to improve the GP offer. All the financial, legal and equalities acquired during the consultation will be shared with the future commissioners.

Cllr O’Neill queried whether work would be done to train receptionists at locations where a ‘spoke’ service may be based. The Consultant in Public Health explained that the consultation had shown that generally respondents preferred not to access services at GP surgeries. There is therefore a need for discrete services within the area. She added that the GP offer will be a primary care based model with training for all staff that provides sexual health services. Some GP services will specialise whilst others will offer a more basic package. There are varying degrees of capacity for GP surgeries to provide these services, but Public Health has identified several appropriate locations which could be specialist centres.

Cllr O’ Neill also questioned how the consultation has related to teenage pregnancies and abortion. Teenage pregnancy services are not commissioned by Public Health, but they can infer from available data it is an issue. By addressing the needs of vulnerable people in the city, many of these vulnerable individuals will be supported.

Cllr Simkins made several points. Firstly he questioned the relationship with the team and schools. The Consultant in Public Health explained that the Healthy Schools Team is looking to develop work on risk taking behaviour for young people. This new service will link into school nurse services. Secondly, Cllr Simkins also supported the team’s plans for an app to provide information to younger people. Finally, he raised the issue of the link between mental and sexual health, focussing on peer pressure and sexting. The Consultant in Public Health agreed with these observations and explained work would be done to help vulnerable individuals.

David Hellyar, HealthWatch, expressed concern about the number of teenage pregnancies in the city and questioned why some of these were not being picked up judicial system. Cllr Evans noted that this was a sensitive issue and would risk criminalising many teenagers.

David Hellyar, HealthWatch, also queried the location of the sexual health Hub, which will be proposed by the tenderers. Contractors will also be responsible for ensuring that any sub-contractors meet the stipulations of their contract. Cllr Simkins stressed that more needed to be done to ensure new contracts should support the sexual health agenda.

Resolved:

1)    To uphold the Sexual Health Consultation.

2)    To consider the feasibility of public health commissioned contracts taking into account sexual health issues.

3)    To add to the specification document links to key services such as health, police and schools.