Integrated Sexual Health Services for Hertfordshire.

Descriptions

Health services. Miscellaneous health services. Community health services. Health and social work services. Services provided by medical personnel. Scope of the Requirement.(1) Project Background.The Public Health White Paper Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England highlights a commitment to work towards an integrated model of service delivery to allow easy access to confidential, non-judgemental sexual health services (including for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), contraception, abortion, health promotion and prevention).From the 1.4.2013, Local Authorities have been mandated to commission comprehensive open access sexual health services (including free STI testing and treatment, notification of sexual partners of infected persons and free provision of contraception).The provision of integrated sexual health services is supported by current accredited training programmes and guidance from relevant professional bodies including FSRH, BASHH, BHIVA, MEDFASH, RCOG and NICE and relevant national policy and guidance issued by the Department of Health and Public Health England.A comprehensive sexual health needs assessment has been commissioned to gain understanding of the sexual health needs of the population and establish whether the current services meet these needs. It found that GUM and contraception services are provided from a range of locations but there are geographic gaps, few clinics provide both services, and there is no central booking system making access more difficult than necessary.There is a large amount of data available on infections in the general population but are currently very little data and no specific outreach services for vulnerable or higher risk groups.There is no systematic approach to ensuring training and accreditation of primary care sexual health services commissioned by the Council and no forum to provide governance, stakeholder involvement or co-ordinate commissioning approaches between agencies.There is no over-arching approach to health promotion and prevention services, and an opportunity to develop an integrated approach with the Council's teenage pregnancy strategy.In order to address the gaps in service provision, the Council are looking to commission an integrated, countywide sexual health service.(2) Current Project Brief.Our vision is to ensure that Hertfordshire provides the best possible services for the local population and improve the sexual health and wellbeing of Hertfordshire residents. The commissioning of a single integrated service will:— Provide consistent, evidence-based, user friendly services delivered in a variety of community settings so that all individuals have choice and access;— Address the current service provision across the county to ensure it is equitable for all sectors of the community, integrated, innovative and cost-effective;— Deliver nationally recommended best practice for Hertfordshire.The specification of services to be commissioned will include Level 1 to 3 services. Level 1 services include Public Health services commissioned from primary care GPs and pharmacists (but not the core GP contract) and condom distribution (C-card). Primary care contracts will continue to be managed by the Council, with support from the provider.For level 2, a range of community clinics is proposed, with all services providing all contraceptive services, Chlamydia screening and some other infection testing (GUM services). They must be young people focussed. The more specialist centres, or level 3 services, will provide a full range of testing and treatment services; and services for specific groups with higher sexual health needs including men who have sex with men. Level 2 and 3 services will be the core provision provided by the integrated service.Outcomes the Council has identified the following for this project:-Outcome 1.To provide the supply of an Integrated Sexual Health Service, to include the provision of:— Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) with Contraception and Sexual Health Services (CASH);— Testing for HIV and other blood borne viruses;— Acquisition and distribution of condoms and associated items;— Specialist services, including psychosexual counselling;— Advice and testing for pregnancy; and;— Health promotion, including partner notification, lifestyle advice and intervention, and motivational interviewing.Outcome 2.For the Council and the chosen supplier(s) to establish a collaborative working relationship which is underpinned by continuous improvement to services; developing and maintaining pathways between levels of service and with other providers (both in and out of county); supporting the development of cost effective service delivery methods in line with national policy and best practice.Outcome 3.Reduce out of county expenditure on GUM activity by providing a wider range of accessible and good quality services for Hertfordshire residents.Outcome 4.For the service to be in place and providing services on 1.4.2015.