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Sexual Health and HIV
As part of our comprehensive strategy to improve the sexual health of the population, the Department of Health is working to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, reduce unintended pregnancies (particularly teenage pregnancies) and improve the range, access to and quality of service provision. On these pages you will find more information and guidance on sexual health including contraception, abortion and STIs and HIV.
NEW: Sexual Health Advising - Developing the workforce
Guidance document for sexual health advisors, Higher Education Institutions, strategic and public health leads and commissioners on the implications of new arrangements for educational and practice preparation of sexual health advisors.
This document has been written by Anne Mcnall as part of SSHA, Unite and the Department of Health’s commitment to take forward issues with regard to registration and education for sexual health advisers in the United Kingdom and will have been mailed out to all SSHA members and Higher Education institutions as well as being distributed by the Department of Health.
This document should be forwarded to all Sexual health and Public Health leads and should be discussed at strategic Sexual Health meetings.
NEW: Good Practice Guide: Sexual Health Needs Assessments (SHNA)
A ‘How To Guide’
This is a good practice guide for undertaking a comprehensive sexual health needs assessment (SHNA) at local level. It has been is designed to be of use to those who are responsible for the planning, commissioning and delivery of sexual health services and for reducing health inequalities. The SHNA guide was commissioned jointly by the Department of Health's National Support Teams for Sexual Health and Teenage Pregnancy. Investment in sexual health services can deliver significant healthcare savings through preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. PCTs are responsible for ensuring sexual health services meet local population needs and reduce health inequalities. To this end, appropriate service commissioning and service provision is inextricably linked to local sexual health needs assessments (SHNAs).
Sexual Health & HIV General Information
General features and resources about sexual health including contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
Sexual Health & HIV Strategy
July 2001 strategy document and June 2002 action plan for modernising sexual health services in England, and implementation progress reports.
Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health & HIV
The establishment of the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV was announced by the Public Health Minister on 6th March 2003. The group, which provides a wide range of views from health professionals involved in all aspects of sexual health, will monitor progress and advise the government on implementation of the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy. The commitment to appoint this advisory group was included in the government's Sexual Health and HIV Strategy Implementation Action Plan pubished in 2002.
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP)
In this section you can find out about the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).
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Condom Essential Wear
Condom Essential Wear is the edgy new safer sex campaign, which aims to normalise condom use and highlight the consequences of unprotected sex. The new campaign is designed to combat the growing numbers and spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with a strong prevention message: Sex without a condom is seriously risky: always use a condom.
Integrating the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV with Primary Medical Care Contracting
This paper is written in direct response to requests from fieldworkers in primary care, mainly from PCT Sexual Health Leads, School Nurses and Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinators (regional and local).
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