New Sexual Health Strategy

posted: 21/01/2011

There will, at last, be a new Sexual Health Strategy for England this year. Public Health Minister, Anne Milton, agreed it is time to replace the HIV and sexual health strategy, which was drawn up in 2001.
 

David Cairns MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV & AIDS, shamed English health ministers into action, by making an unfavourable comparison with Scotland, who have a more recent Sexual Health plan.

The All Party Parliamentary Group, and others, repeatedly pushed the Government for a new English strategy.

Finally at a debate on World AIDS Day in Westminster Hall, the Public Health Minister announced there will be a new strategy for England. Anne Milton confirmed it would be more than just a ‘position paper.’
 

“HIV has changed enormously in the last decade. It is now a long-term health condition, not a death sentence, and there are far more people now living with the virus. We’ve been arguing for a new strategy to reflect those changes and I am very pleased that the Government has decided to draw one up this year,” said David Cairns MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group.
 

Remember this?

The 2001 English strategy aimed to:

• reduce the transmission of HIV and STIs
• reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV and STIs
• reduce unintended pregnancy rates
• improve health and social care for people living with HIV
• reduce the stigma associated with HIV and STIs.

To do this the 2001 English Strategy said about HIV, that it would :

• provide clear information about avoiding STIs, including HIV
• increase HIV testing [testing is up]
• ensure there is a sound evidence base of what works in HIV/STI prevention
• set a target to reduce the number of new HIV infections [this target was hopelessly missed]
• develop managed networks for HIV and sexual health services [we have 3 NW networks]
• set a target to reduce the number with undiagnosed HIV [now at last, but we had to wait until 2011]
• ensure earlier access to HIV treatment [This is still a major problem, England has a high level of late HIV diagnosis]
• set standards for treatment, support and social care of people living with HIV [where are the standards for social care support? but we do have excellent standards for treatment]
• prioritise researching good practice in sexual health and HIV

On other sexual health issues the 2001 plan was to 

• evaluate more integrated sexual health services
• screen for Chlamydia
• stress open access to GUM services and more urgent appointments
• ensure a range of contraceptive services are provided
• address the patchy abortion service
• increase hepatitis B vaccinations
• set standards for treating STIs
• train and develop the sexual health workforce
   

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