Sexual Health Needs Assessment
Recommendations
STIs:
- Promote and increase STI and HIV testing widely within the borough, particularly for at risk populations (including young people, areas of deprivation, and MSM), to bring testing rates more in line with the England average.
- Promote opportunistic STI testing and signposting to those attending abortion services and emergency contraception services to help increase testing rates in people who are at risk and may not otherwise seek testing.
- Raise awareness of safe sex and use of contraception.
National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP):
- Consider a review of the provision of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme in community settings such as pharmacies, especially for pharmacies who are offering EHC.
- Promote the NCSP and improve accessibility to chlamydia testing, particularly in rural areas, Ellesmere Port, and for at risk groups.
HIV
- Improve uptake of regular and repeat HIV testing in MSM in line with the NICE guidelines.
- Improve identification and uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for at risk individuals.
Unplanned Pregnancy
- The rise in both the total abortion rate and the abortion rate in over-25s should be explored in detail, taking a whole system approach.
- Pathways and systems for contraception provision after an abortion or after a birth could be reviewed. Improved opportunistic contraception provision may help increase access to contraception for those who are currently less well served.
Contraception
- Carry out a review of LARC provision to ensure equity of access.
- Review EHC provision in light of the proposed national EHC pharmacy offer to ensure equity of access.
- Improve long term contraception access and provision in all age groups, especially in the 16-29 year olds.
Service Provision
- A systemwide review of alert systems, coding and processes around female genital mutilation (FGM) could be considered across different health organisations to protect individuals and enable data and collation for planning.
