Sexual health services renewed across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Local authorities commit to six years of investment worth more than £36m through new Section 75 agreement.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have agreed to recommission their shared integrated sexual and reproductive health treatment services for the next six years, with a budget of £36,112,278.
Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
Local authorities across the country have a mandatory obligation to provide sexual health services, which need to be robust to ensure that sexually transmitted infections are treated promptly and to reduce the risk of spread. Such services are in increasing demand; over the past few years, rates of sexually transmitted infections have seen significant increase both nationally and in Cambridgeshire.
Under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006, NHS bodies and local authorities can commission health or social care related services to deliver their mandatory obligations, on the condition – says the legislation – that such ‘arrangements are likely to lead to an improvement in the way in which those functions are exercised.’
Cambridgeshire Community Services currently provides integrated sexual and reproductive health treatment services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and it is this provision that has now been recommissioned, with additional objectives.
As well as its current activity, the recommissioned service will now have a role in promoting sexual and reproductive health prevention messages in a range of settings, as well as running campaigns and other promotional activities.
What’s more, it will also work with what can be both high-risk and often under-served groups, including Gypsy Traveller communities and homeless people, and support those living with HIV in terms of their mental and physical health, socio-economic issues and coping with stigma.
Val Thomas, Acting Director of Public Health in Cambridgeshire says: ‘I am delighted that the committee has agreed to recommission this service. The new service will play a key role in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections through offering access to prompt treatment alongside work to prevent infections and unplanned pregnancies.’
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