21.11.19
New sexual health services announced by Cornwall Council
Following a consultation, Cornwall Council have announced today (Nov 21st) more availability will soon be made for sexual health clinics and an online service.
The service will come from Brook and their online partner SH:24 from December 2019.
Brook was established nearly 60 years ago and has over 25 years’ experience delivering sexual health services for young people in Cornwall. They are working in partnership with SH:24, an award-winning supplier of digital sexual health and reproductive services.
The changes to the service have been brought about following feedback collated in Cornwall’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
Cornwall Council are responsible for commissioning contraception and sexual health services in Cornwall and, as part of tender law, is legally obligated to frequently undertake a commissioning process so that the services they provide change and develop to meet the needs of the population.
The findings of the consultation showed that the majority if people want to access a specialist, all age, integrated sexual health and contraceptive service for their sexual health needs.
People fed back that the most common barrier preventing them from using sexual health services was if they were “hard to get to.” Other common perceived barriers were “fears of seeing someone you know” and “embarrassment.”
They also wanted to mix a book able and drop in appointments at a clinic which is accessible to them. In particular young people preferred to access an online service and a specialist young people’s contraceptive and sexual health service.
Cornwall Council’s Deputy Director for Public Health, Steve Brown said: “It’s important that people have access to good quality sexual health and wellbeing services. Poor sexual health leads to inequality, and can have negative impacts on physical, emotional and social health. People will also be able to use an online testing service, making it much easier for people in Cornwall to access sexual health services”