Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Prevalence of STIs among young people

Status: Closed Opened: 5 Jan 2024 Closed: 4 Apr 2024 12 recommendations 4 conclusions 1 report
Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexually transmitted infec… HC 463 26 Mar 2024 16 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
4 Recommendation Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual… Accepted in Part

Accredit and monitor online STI test providers, and outline child safeguarding for online risks.

Online providers of STI tests and treatment should be accredited by the relevant regulatory body, and regularly monitored on their performance against national clinical guidelines. In response to this Report, the Government should set out the steps it will take to ensure that all children who identify online as a …

Government response. The government partially accepts, noting existing regulation for online STI tests and treatments, though some providers may be outside CQC scope. For child safeguarding, NICE guidance on Child Maltreatment will be linked in new CQC safeguarding guidance, but specific steps …
Government Equalities Office
10 Conclusion Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual… Accepted in Part

Inadequate Relationships and Sex Education in schools poses unacceptable risks to children.

There is compelling evidence that Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in schools is inadequate, including in relation to contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with nearly half of children saying education in this area is so poor they rely on finding information for themselves online. This exposes children to an …

Government response. The government partially accepts the conclusion, noting existing teacher training modules and Oak National Academy resources, and confirming DfE is currently reviewing the RSHE statutory guidance with a response due in 2025. They are also developing effective practice tools for …
Government Equalities Office
13 Recommendation Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual… Accepted in Part

Set out plans to reverse substantial reductions in the number of school nurses.

School nurses are a valuable resource. They are a trusted adult who children can turn to, they can pick up on safeguarding concerns, and trends in problems such as STI prevalence in a community. They can also direct children to sexual health services, 30 The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections …

Government response. The government partially accepts, recognising the fundamental role of school nurses and stating that workforce planning will be a central part of the 10 Year Health Plan to ensure the right staff are available, including school nurses. However, no specific …
Government Equalities Office
14 Recommendation Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual… Accepted in Part

Increase HPV vaccine uptake, targeting missed children and enabling sexual health services.

The HPV vaccine is a remarkable step forwards in preventing HPV infection and the serious consequences that can result from it. It is a tragedy that not all children are receiving this vaccine. The Government must step up its efforts to increase take up of the HPV vaccine, including as …

Government response. The government partially accepts the recommendation. It commits to strengthening efforts to improve HPV vaccine uptake, including targeted outreach, digital enhancements, and local commissioning to meet WHO recommended levels. However, it only accepts that sexual health services should be able …
Government Equalities Office
16 Recommendation Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual… Accepted in Part

Develop a coherent, cross-sector sexual health strategy to reverse rising STI trends in young people.

The Government must ensure that the sexual healthcare system works more efficiently and effectively to arrest and reverse the trend in sexually transmitted infections. This will require longer term work to carefully consider how the different parts of the system can work together to achieve this. The Government should work …

Government response. The government partially accepts, committing to developing a new HIV Action Plan by 2025, which will include objectives to stabilise and support sexual and reproductive health (SRH) system enablers, and improve collaboration and integration in the wider SRH system.
Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
24 Jan 2024 Dame Rachel de Souza · Inspiration Trust, Dr Claire Dewsnap · British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), Professor Sir Chris Whitty · Department for Health and Social Care View ↗