Decision details

Reason(s) for decision:

Kent County Council has a statutory duty to provide comprehensive sexual health services under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, which includes the site from which they are delivered. The Department of Health & Social Care and Public Health England Suggested Integrated Sexual Health Service Specification stipulates the location of premises should be based on the needs of the local population, be accessible by public transport and should meet the majority of need from one site.

Specialist sexual health services in Thanet are delivered over three separate sites, each offering a service aspect during a part of the week. The sites are Newington Road Clinic, College Road Clinic and the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital. The current arrangements lack the facilities and/or capacity to fully meet current and future need.

A new site has been progressed to enable a fully integrated sexual health service to be delivered in Thanet in one site.

The Kent Sexual Health Needs Assessment identified the number of attendances at local services by Kent residents increased on average by 31.8% annually between 2013 and 2017 an increase between 2013 and 2017 of 51.1%. 2016 data identified Thanet as having the highest attendance per 100,000 population at just over 4,800 and the third-highest average attendance per patient when compared to other Kent districts.

The Flete Unit, Margate, has been identified as a suitable premise to house a comprehensive integrated sexual health service offer for population of Thanet and surrounding areas.

Any alternatives considered and rejected:

Other sites in Thanet have been considered to varying degrees, however, none were able to be progressed due to the site either being unsuitable or being granted to a different service/provider. Sites include;

-   3 retail units

-   Mill Lane, Margate

-   Sarre Unit, Margate

-   Margate Adult Education Centre

-   Norfolk Road Hotel, Margate

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, I agree to:

a)    Develop the Flete Unit into a sexual health clinic, office space and teaching platform to deliver specialist sexual health services from a single site in the Thanet area, secured via a 15-year lease.

b)    Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social care and Public Health and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services to take relevant actions necessary to implement this decision, including but not limited to; entering into the required contracts for the development works, finalising the terms of and entering into the required leases and other legal agreements as required to permit occupation and use of the site for the delivery of sexual health services.