Introduction
North Yorkshire County Council intend to enter into a Section 75 Partnership Agreement with current Provider York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for Integrated Sexual Health Services subject to internal governance processes. If approved North Yorkshire County Council will consult with any stakeholders who may be affected by the partnership being put in place.
The service will remain largely the same with an open access specialist sexual health service with a focus on the county’s priority groups, as identified in the Sexual Health Needs Assessment refresh 2019.
The service will follow the newly published national specification recommendations and evidence based standards for service provision.
Since 1 April 2013, NYCC have been required by regulation to commission HIV prevention and sexual health promotion, open access genito-urinary medicine and contraception services for all age groups. All sexual health clinics offer a full range of sexual health and contraceptive services. This replaces the previous 'standalone' Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) or Contraception and Sexual Health (CaSH) clinics.
The Local Authority is mandated to commission open access confidential services. The provider must operate an open access policy for both contraception and STI services regardless of residence of the patient.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 legislation defines services as:
(i) for preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections;
(ii) for treating and caring for persons with such infections;
(iii) for notifying sexual partners of persons with such infections
(iv) advice on, and reasonable access to, a broad range of contraceptive substances and appliances;
(v) advice on preventing unintended pregnancy.
Service Details
The current contract for the North Yorkshire Integrated Sexual Health Service ends on 31 March 2020.
Contact Details
For further information please contact Emma Davis, Health Improvement Manager, Emma.Davis@northyorks.gov.uk, 01609 797154
