Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Deferred
Paragraph: 29
Public health grant reductions for sexual health services are unsustainable amid increasing demand.
Conclusion
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.
Government response summary AI-generated
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.
Paragraph Reference:
29
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 7 May 2025. No passage in that response could be matched to this conclusion. Read the response document ↗