Issue - meetings

Attached.

Mark Ansell

15:00

The Board was advised that Havering performed at an average or better level for most sexual health services although abortion rates were relatively high. HIV rates for Havering had also increased slightly.

The redesign of Havering’s sexual health services was now live and the London e-Service would start in May 2017. This would allow residents to order self-sampling kits to their homes. Inner North East London boroughs were looking to procure a new site for their services in the Stratford area which was likely to be more accessible for some Havering residents.

The ICP approach could lead to a change in the family planning  pathway at locality level and it was planned to procure new contracts for the BHR area for sexual health by October 2018.

. There were no figures available for abortion rates at borough level and this would need to be looked at on a wider level. All abortions were carried out, by law, on health grounds so it was not possible to produce information on more detailed reasons for abortions. Sexual health services were also provided anonymously so there was no data on for example what proportion of Looked After Children were accessing services.

It was confirmed that Havering’s family planning spokes had closed last year following a consultation. Family planning services were however still available at Queen’s Hospital or via GPs. The GUM service had moved from Queen’s to Barking Hospital. The morning after pill and long acting reversible contraception was still commissioned from GPs. It was confirmed that all existing clients had been advised where new services would be provided from and the e-service would offer a further option, once this commenced.

Pharmacists were not able to prescribe the contraceptive pill in Havering and the Director of Public Health added that 80% of Havering women accessed contraception via their GP. The Havering CCG Chair added however that there were capacity issues re this as there may not be not enough GPs to provide contraceptive services. It was felt that this was an issue that the ICP could look at.

The Board noted the report.