Agenda item

Sexual Health Services Recommissioning

To receive an update on the recommissioning of the Sexual Health Service. (20 mins)

Minutes:

The Committee received a report and presentation on the recommissioning of sexual health services.

 

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

 

·         Mandated services provided by Public Health included:

o   NHS Health Check;

o   Sexual Health (STI testing and treatment);

o   Sexual Health (Contraception);

o   Protection;

o   Public Health advice to Clinical Commissioning Group;

o   National Child Measurement Programme.

·         From October Public Health responsibilities would increase further.

·         The Public Health budget for 2014/15 was £4,223,000.  36% of this had been spent on sexual health services, including non-mandated prevention.

·         A total of £1,315,000 had been spent on sexual health services in 2014/15 (mandated STI testing and treatment £862,000 and mandated contraception £317,000).

·         Under the Venereal Diseases Act 1974, patients could access any sexual health clinic in the UK regardless of area of residence and could do so anonymously.  The provider Trusts, if given sufficient information by the patient, could then invoice the local authority of resident of the patient.  The Council had received invoices from some 37 providers or Trusts across the country and in 2014/15 had paid a total of £39,748 for such out of area sexual health services.

·         The East Berkshire service at the Garden Clinic in Slough had cost the Council £41,720 and the West Berkshire service at the Florey Clinic has cost £735,610.  Neighbouring providers under contract had cost £26,580 and primary care services in Wokingham had cost £130,542.

·         It was important that sexual health commissioners were aware of cultural changes and outbreaks of different infections.  Cultural changes and increased use of social media to make sexual connections had an impact on the type of service provision required.  The Committee was provided with statistics regarding the number of people in the Borough that day seeking sex online.  Members were also informed that there had been a recent increase in the number of people diagnosed with syphilis in the Berkshire area and that Public Health had co-ordinated a campaign to address this.

·         Some sexual health services such as HIV treatment and termination of pregnancy services were not the commissioning responsibility of Public Health and as such had not been included in the process.  Nevertheless, in order to provide a virtual integrated service for residents, joined-up sexual health provision required close collaboration between the Council and the providers and commissioners of these services. 

·         Chlamydia screening had also been excluded from the tender process because Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, who ran the service in the East of Berkshire as well as the West under two separate contracts, had agreed to introduce Dual Testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea throughout the county at no extra cost within the current financial year. 

·         Local stakeholder events were held across Berkshire in January and February 2014 to feedback the findings of the sexual health needs assessment.  The stakeholder events helped to determine local priorities and services and the outcomes fed into the service specification. 

·         Recommendations from the Sexual Health Needs Assessment had included:

o   Central web based information resource on services in Berkshire;

o   Integration and closer working between services;

o   Maintenance of integration between HIV and sexual health services;

o   Strategic approach to the provision of services;

o   Improved access and its challenges.

·         Reprocurement discussions had revealed that different approaches were required in East and West Berkshire.  Bracknell and Slough had agreed to remain with their current provider, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.  The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead had felt that they should test the market to consider their options and had agreed to enter into the tendering process in partnership with the West of Berkshire councils.  However, after tenders where received; they decided to pull out of the procurement exercise.  The Berkshire West councils had written a service specification and financial specification had been defined.

·         The current provider Royal Berkshire Hospital Foundation Trust had been awarded a new three year contract, which had come into effect from 1 April 2015.

·         A new IT platform and website was being developed across Berkshire which would provide information for residents and bring together all sexual heath related services, including advice on child sexual exploitation, as a one stop shop.

·         The Gauge Clinic, a walk in clinic specifically for men who had sex with men, had been developed.

·         The Consultant in Public Health took Members through the savings that the new contract was estimated to bring about.  It was anticipated that £196,000 would be saved each year for the three years of the contract.  There was potential for additional savings in all years, although there was also a £20,000 risk in Year 1.

·         Councillor Miall asked if there were links between the sexual health services and other services.  The Consultant in Public Health commented that there were strong links between the sexual health services and other services such as those relating to drugs and alcohol. 

·         Information regarding the age range and genders of those using the sexual health treatment services and the different infections and treatments, was requested to give the Committee a clearer picture of local service users and the different infections and treatment.

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

1)         the process and outcomes of the re-procurement and recommissioning process be considered and that Members be aware of the rationale for the re-tendering, benefits achieved and reduction in overall costs.

 

2)         Public Health be requested provide information regarding the age range and genders of those using the sexual health treatment services and the different infections and treatments.

 

Supporting documents: