Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
2
Conclusion
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Deferred
The public health grant to local authorities for the commissioning of sexual health services (SHSs) has been reduced substantially during a period of increasing demand. This is not sustainable and an obvious false economy. It has left many SHSs unable to maintain sufficient staff to provide an adequate level of …
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The public health grant to local authorities for the commissioning of sexual health services (SHSs) has been reduced substantially during a period of increasing demand. This is not sustainable and an obvious false economy. It has left many SHSs unable to maintain sufficient staff to provide an adequate level of service. It is unacceptable that around half of SHSs have been unable to offer face-to-face consultations when contacted. This has equality impacts, for young people who need face-to-face advice and support from trusted adults, but also for other groups likely to struggle to access support online.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation but redirects its response to discuss the regulation of online STI self-test kits and treatments, and the inclusion of child maltreatment guidance in CQC's internal safeguarding policy, rather than addressing the impact of public health grant reductions.
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Government Equalities Office
5
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Deferred
Competition for contracts can lead to improved service provision, however repeated tendering and short-term contracts can also be destabilising and lead to the loss of experienced workers. The Government should make an assessment of the effect of repeated tendering of sexual health services on the adequacy of local SHS provision …
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Competition for contracts can lead to improved service provision, however repeated tendering and short-term contracts can also be destabilising and lead to the loss of experienced workers. The Government should make an assessment of the effect of repeated tendering of sexual health services on the adequacy of local SHS provision and its impact on the sexual health workforce. As part of that assessment the Government should consider whether public health grant settlements over a longer term would better support strategic service delivery.
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Government response AI summary
Despite accepting the recommendation, the government's response entirely focuses on its commitment to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), detailing funding for AMR research and a 20-year vision, rather than assessing the impact of tendering on sexual health services.
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Government Equalities Office
7
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Deferred
It is worrying that we are seeing antibiotic resistance to some STIs—particularly gonorrhoea, where the rate of diagnoses has reached record levels, and for which young people and other communities at greatest risk are most likely to experience drug resistance. In response to this Report the Government should set out …
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It is worrying that we are seeing antibiotic resistance to some STIs—particularly gonorrhoea, where the rate of diagnoses has reached record levels, and for which young people and other communities at greatest risk are most likely to experience drug resistance. In response to this Report the Government should set out the steps it is taking to develop new antibiotics for the treatment of gonorrhoea, shigella and mycoplasma genitalia, and other relevant STIs, including the level of funding it is providing to support that research. (Paragraph 39) Prevention
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Government response AI summary
Despite accepting the recommendation, the government's response focuses on local authorities' commissioning decisions, national prevention campaigns, and funding for the HPE campaign, rather than detailing any steps or funding for the development of new antibiotics for STIs.
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Government Equalities Office
11
Conclusion
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Deferred
The Government, Oak National Academy—the public body established in 2020 to provide teachers with online lesson plans and other resources—headteachers and Ofsted must place greater priority on RSE and ensuring it delivers the information and guidance that children need. The Government also needs to do more to make the positive …
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The Government, Oak National Academy—the public body established in 2020 to provide teachers with online lesson plans and other resources—headteachers and Ofsted must place greater priority on RSE and ensuring it delivers the information and guidance that children need. The Government also needs to do more to make the positive case for sex education in schools, to help parents to see that sexually transmitted infection information is a safeguard rather than a threat.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation with an unclear qualification, but its response then focuses entirely on the HPV vaccination programme, its coverage targets, and delivery enhancements, ignoring the recommendation to prioritize and improve RSE in schools.
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Government Equalities Office
12
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Deferred
The Government should work with the NHS and Oak National Academy to improve the teaching of sex education, and the materials available to support it, to ensure it provides an effective response to the troubling increases in the prevalence of STIs among young people. The benefits of condom use should …
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The Government should work with the NHS and Oak National Academy to improve the teaching of sex education, and the materials available to support it, to ensure it provides an effective response to the troubling increases in the prevalence of STIs among young people. The benefits of condom use should be a key part of the curriculum. As we have previously recommended, RSE should be taught up to the age of 18.
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Government response AI summary
Despite accepting the recommendation, the government's response focuses entirely on the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), its policy changes, and monitoring its effectiveness, rather than addressing improvements to RSE teaching, curriculum content, or extending RSE provision.
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Government Equalities Office