New set of Recommended Standards to Improve Sexual Health Services in the NHS
Mar 18, 2005 - 4:16:00 PM
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"We recently announced an extra £300m in our Public Health White Paper to transform sexual services and I hope that these new, clearer recommended standards will offer healthcare professionals at all levels invaluable information to meet government targets as well as enhancing the quality of services in all settings."
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By DOH, UK,
[RxPG] A new set of clear recommended standards to improve sexual health services in the NHS have been jointly launched today by Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson and Ruth Lowbury of the Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health.
The standards will give guidance to healthcare professionals working in the field as well as giving people an idea of the level of sexual health services they should expect wherever they live.
The new recommended standards fulfil a commitment made in the Governments sexual health and HIV strategy of 2001. They also provide a solid example of how the Department of Health is delivering on the Public Health White Papers sexual health commitments to modernise sexual health services as well as the aim to reduce inequalities and improve the patients experience.
Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said:
"The Department of Health welcomes these recommended standards as excellent markers of good practice - which will help to improve the quality of sexual health services across the country.
"We recently announced an extra £300m in our Public Health White Paper to transform sexual services and I hope that these new, clearer recommended standards will offer healthcare professionals at all levels invaluable information to meet government targets as well as enhancing the quality of services in all settings."
Ruth Lowbury, Executive Director of MedFASH added:
"The standards have been developed with the aim of enabling people to have prompt and convenient access to consistent, equitable and high quality sexual health care, wherever they live."
Recommended Standards for Sexual Health Services was produced by the Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health (MedFASH), on behalf of the Department of Health.
Ten sexual health standards have been recommended, which include:
* a programme of sexual health promotion to help reduce the risk of STIs and unwanted pregnancy
* measures to improve detection of sexual health need, including chlamydia screening
* improving access to, and information on service provision
* speedy detection and management of STIs
* prompt access to contraceptive advice and provision
* services working together to increase choice for their users
Publication:
Department of Health, UK
On the web:
dh.gov.uk 
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Additional information about the news article
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1. The Recommended Standards for Sexual Health Services was developed with funding from the Department of Health and the participation of a multi-disciplinary advisory group of experts from across the sexual health field. The groups membership covered a broad range of sector interests with roles in planning and delivery, including primary care, specialist services, the voluntary and independent sectors. MedFASH also consulted many other key stakeholders during development.
2. MedFASH, the Medical Foundation for AIDS & Sexual Health is a charity, supported by the British Medical Association, which works with policy-makers and health professionals, to promote excellence in the prevention and management of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
3. These recommended standards for sexual health, complement the existing recommended standards for NHS HIV services, published in 2003 and also available from MedFASH.
4. The document is available in electronic form on the MedFASH website, www.medfash.org.uk, and the DH website at www.dh.gov.uk.
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