Sexual health services review

Contracts for sexual health services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland end on 31 December 2018. To see what new services should offer we carried out a consultation asking the people who use the services about their feelings towards a number of possible changes to the service.

• 177 questionnaires were completed from people from Leicester.
• 23% of the questionnaires were from people under 25.
• Issues for those under 25 were a little different from everyone else, with young people liking online services more than a phone service.
• The people who filled in the questionnaire were not as diverse as the population of Leicester, and so the questionnaire was reopened to get more responses from people from BME backgrounds.

Generally people liked the idea of an online appointment booking service, having a mix of pre-booked appointments and a ‘turn up and wait’ service, being able to access advice services online and by phone, being able to order self-test kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) online, and being able to use self-service machines to get sexual health products such as condoms.

People from Leicester had three main questions/issues were about the services.

1. People wanted to know they would have enough information about how to use the STI self-testing kits and also wanted a way to make sure the tests are trustworthy.
2. People wanted to make sure the self-service machines would be in discreet spaces.
3. People wanted to know that the self-testing kits and self-service machines would only be used by the right people, and not people who are vulnerable or young.

1. We will create video instructions on how to use tests. The videos will be on the sexual health services website and on the self-service machines. The STI testing kits will all be up to national quality standards showing they are trustworthy.
2. The location of self-service machines will be thought about carefully, and will be chosen to make sure they are in discreet areas. This will include in the reception area of the new service.
3. Before getting self-testing kits, people will need to fill in a questionnaire online with information including their name and date of birth. After doing this, users will be directed to the most appropriate service. Young or vulnerable people would be directed to appointments with a member of staff.