Background
East Sussex Public Health is responsible for
commissioning specialist sexual health services, including testing
and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and
genital conditions, and some contraception. This complements the
services provided by GPs, allowing people with complex needs to
access specialist support.
The current contract comes to an end next
year. We will publish the specification that providers will use to
bid for the new contract in October. Before we do that, we want to
make sure that our plans, which are informed by national guidance
and local insight, are inclusive and accessible.
The impact of COVID-19
In order to keep people safe during the
pandemic we have already had to change the service model. As a
result, people mainly access the service over the telephone or
online, and receive many physical items through the post or by
collection.
Where people need face-to-face support this
has still been on offer through the two main clinics in Hastings
and Eastbourne, although all appointments now have to be booked in
advance. The smaller clinics have been closed as they
couldn’t be operated safely.
Prior to the pandemic
we were looking at introducing similar changes when the new
contract started. So COVID-19 has basically sped up those changes.
In case of future lockdowns or restrictions, we also need to ensure
that access to the service remains safe and it isn’t
dependent on face-to-face appointments.
We are now looking to
make the changes introduced during the pandemic permanent.
It’s important people have their say on the model before we
do that.
The updated service model
Our sexual health
website will act as the digital ‘front
door’. People will be expected to use it to carry out simple
requests, such as non-complex STI and HIV testing, and condoms.
People who struggle to use the website or who
aren’t online will be able to access the same services
through a telephone consultation via a freephone number.
Anyone identified through the online or phone
consultation as having complex needs when they first access the
service will be offered a telephone assessment and, if needed, a
face-to-face appointment. Booked appointments will take place as
usual at the hubs in Hastings and Eastbourne.
We also want to make sure that people who are
less likely to use the service can still benefit from specialist
sexual health support. To do this we plan to directly support teams
working with homelessness services, substance misuse treatment
services, asylum support and youth services to develop their own
sexual health signposting, self-help, and testing directly with
their clients. This will allow sexual health to be considered as
part of a wider health offer.
What would change
We have retained the appointment system for
the hub clinics in Eastbourne and Hastings, rather than going back
to a drop-in approach. Some evening appointments will be retained,
but the Saturday morning clinics would not be reinstated.
The part-time clinics that stopped operating
during the pandemic will not reopen. These were provided at:
Hailsham Health Centre (3 hours a week); Uckfield Minor Injuries
Unit (4 hours); Bexhill Health Centre (2 hours); and Arthur
Blackman Clinic (3 hours). Some of these services were already only
offering a limited service and were not well used.
For those who do not have a GP or are unable
to see them, or those who have complex contraception needs
requiring a face-to-face appointment, the service will assess them
and provide the first prescription. After that people will be
referred back to their GP for repeat prescriptions. We will keep
offering the online condom service to all ages rather than limit it
to under 25s as previously.
We intend to maintain the online provision of
emergency hormonal contraception and the availability of HIV post
exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP).
How this would affect people
Making the service online and telephone-based
in the first instance should increase access to the service for
those who are unable or unwilling to use face-to-face services. For
example, it will increase access for people who don’t live
near a clinic, and allow those who commute, work, have caring
responsibilities, or mobility issues to use the service when it
suits them.
At the same time, we know there would be
people who aren’t online or who would struggle to access
services this way; for example, those who don’t have a smart
phone or tablet and those who don’t have internet access at
home. For others, the barrier would be the lack of a fixed address
where contraception or testing kits can be delivered.
By offering telephone access and keeping
limited face-to-face appointments we think we can make sure that
everyone has easy access to specialist sexual health services.
Why we are consulting
The way the service has been adapted and run
during the pandemic is similar to some of the changes we were
already planning. We are pleased to say that on the whole the new
ways of working have proved more efficient and accessible.
It’s important though to check that the
new service specifications and ways of working are robust and
inclusive in the long term. We also want to understand how people
will be affected if some of the clinics don’t reopen and
others move to an appointment only system.
Specialist sexual health services questionnaire
This questionnaire is anonymous and we don't
ask you to provide any personal information, although there is an
optional ‘about you’ section at the end. Please ensure
that any comments don't include any names or personal details of
you or anyone else. You can find our privacy notice about how the
data will be stored and processed by East Sussex County Council on
our website (www.eastsussex.gov.uk/privacy/consultation-hub/).
Q1) Are you completing the survey as: (Please tick all that apply)
☐ Someone
who has used specialist contraception services
☐ Some who
has used sexually transmitted infection testing services
☐ Someone
who works in sexual health services
☐ A General
Practitioner (GP)
☐ An
organisation providing sexual health services
☐ Other
(please provide details below)
If you ticked ‘other’ please provide details in the
box below:
Q2) How much do you agree or disagree
that our updated service model will provide easy access to sexual
health services in East Sussex?
☐ Strongly
agree
☐ Agree
☐ Neither
agree nor disagree
☐
Disagree
☐ Strongly
disagree
Please use the box below to provide your comments:
Q3) How would you, or your organisation, be affected by our
plans?
What you tell us will help us carry out an
equality impact analysis. So please do let us know if the new model
would make your life easier or harder and explain why.
Q4) Do you have any other suggestions
or comments about our plans?
Thank you for sharing your feedback. If you would like to, please
fill
in the optional about you section on the next pages. Send your
completed survey to: Freepost, East Sussex County Council, Public
Health
About you
questions
You don’t have to answer the questions in
this section, but it will help us to make sure that everyone is
treated fairly and equally if you do. Your information will only be
used and reported anonymously to support the consultation,
engagement or feedback activity you are taking part in. We will
keep your individual information for a period of up to five years
and we won’t keep it any longer than is necessary. Please get
in touch with the named contact for this activity if you would like
more information. Full privacy notice:
www.eastsussex.gov.uk/privacy/about-you-survey/
Q1) Are you?
☐
Male
☐
Female
☐ Prefer not to say
Q2) Do you identify as a transgender or trans person?
☐
Yes
☐
No
☐ Prefer not to say
Q3) Which of these age groups do you belong to?
☐ under
18 ☐
18-24 ☐
25-34 ☐
35-44 ☐ 45-54
☐
55-59
☐
60-64 ☐
65+
☐ Prefer not to say
Q4) What is your postcode?
☐ Tick here if you prefer not to say
Q5) To which of these ethnic groups do you feel you
belong?
☐ White
British
☐ Asian or Asian British Indian
☐ White
Irish
☐ Asian or Asian British Pakistani
☐ White
Gypsy/Roma
☐ Asian or Asian British Bangladeshi
☐ White
Irish
Traveller
☐ Asian or Asian British other*
☐ White
other*
☐ Black or Black British Caribbean
☐ Mixed
White and Black
Caribbean
☐ Black or Black British African
☐ Mixed
White and Black
African
☐ Black or Black British other*
☐ Mixed
White and
Asian
☐ Arab
☐ Mixed
other*
☐ Chinese
☐ Other
ethnic
group*
☐ Prefer not to say
*If your ethnic group was not specified in the list please describe
your ethnic group.
The Equality Act 2010 describes a person as
disabled if they have a longstanding physical or mental condition
that has lasted or is likely to last at least 12 months; and this
condition has a substantial adverse effect on their ability to
carry out normal day to day activities. People with some conditions
(cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS) are considered to be
disabled from the point that they are diagnosed.
Q6) Do you consider yourself to be disabled as set out in the
Equality Act?
☐
Yes
☐
No
☐ Prefer not to say
Q6b) If you answered yes to Q6, please tell us the type of
impairment that applies to you. You may have more than one type of
impairment, so please select all that apply. If none of these apply
to you please select other and give brief details of the impairment
you have.
☐ Physical
impairment
☐ Sensory impairment (hearing and sight)
☐ Long standing illness or health condition,
such as cancer, HIV, heart disease, diabetes or
epilepsy
☐ Mental
health
condition
☐ Learning disability
☐ Prefer
not to
say
☐ Other*
*If other, please
specify:
Q7) Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular
religion or belief?
☐
Yes
☐
No
☐ Prefer not to say
Q7a) If you answered yes to Q7, which one?
☐
Christian
☐
Hindu
☐
Muslim
☐ Buddhist
☐
Jewish
☐
Sikh
☐ Any other religion (please specify)
Q8) Are you?
☐
Bi/Bisexual
☐ Gay
woman/Lesbian ☐ Gay
Man
☐
Heterosexual/Straight
☐
Other
☐ Prefer not to say
Q9) Are you currently pregnant or have you been pregnant in the
last year?
☐
Yes
☐
No
☐ Prefer not to say
Q10) Are you married or in a civil partnership?
☐
Yes
☐
No
☐ Prefer not to say
Thank you for providing this information.
