Devon and Torbay unite for better sexual health

Torbay Council and Devon County Council have announced that a new integrated sexual health contract has been awarded to the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

This service will begin on July 1 and consist of:

• Sexual health promotion and prevention
• Online STI testing and treatment
• Specialist integrated sexual reproductive health service
• Sexual and reproductive health services delivered in community settings
• System leadership network management and training

Residents should not notice any change in existing provision with a continuation of specialist delivery through the Devon sexual health clinics, including the sexual and reproductive service based at Castle Circus, Torquay.

As the contract develops, there will be there will be an emphasis on improving local access to services, and encouragement of self-management and digital access to sexual health and contraception care, including the ordering of self-sampling sexually transmitted infection kits online.

Royal Devon is the existing provider and this new contract will extend the service for seven years, with the option to extend by three years to a total of ten years.

This means that local councils are working in partnership to commission local, stable and sustainable health services for residents of Devon and Torbay.

Hayley Tranter, Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities, said: “This new contract, which will see us working in partnership with Devon County Council and Royal Devon, will build on a range of high-quality services and continue to improve, extend and enhance sexual health access to all communities and residents. There will be a real focus on prevention, innovative digital solutions and clinical excellence.”

Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality said: “I’m pleased that the county council will be working in partnership with the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Torbay Council to deliver these vital services. The public can expect that the same high quality specialist services will continue to be delivered within the county’s sexual health clinics.”

Sue Smith, Head of Devon Sexual Health said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the new integrated sexual health contract, and we look forward to working with our system partners to continue to improve sexual health services for the populations of Devon and Torbay."