Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health and the Director of Public Health, setting out the key findings of the needs assessment and changes in the delivery of sexual health services. Members are asked to either endorse or make a recommendation to the Cabinet Member on the proposed changes to the provision of sexual health services which are due to expire in March 2019.

Ms W Jeffreys, Public Health Specialist, and Mr M Gilbert, Senior Commissioner, were in attendance for this item. 

1.            Ms Jeffreys and Mr Gilbert introduced the report and updated the statistics set out in para 3.11 of the report; the percentage of late diagnosis of HIV in Kent had increased to 61.7% compared to 41.1% in England as a whole. They and Mr Scott-Clark then responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following:-

a)    the online ordering facility for testing kits allowed customers to access kits discreetly, without having to ask over a counter. It also reduced the demand for clinic visits, which were more expensive, as only those testing positive would then be invited to attend a clinic appointment.   Members were assured that kits obtained through the online service would come only from reputable, quality providers, approved and commissioned by the County Council. This saved customers having to search randomly elsewhere on the internet and perhaps finding products which were not quite so reliable;

b)    although the online ‘Get It’ programme was available only for people over 16, younger customers would be signposted to find support and products elsewhere.  A young person logging in would be required to enter their date of birth and would be guided through the system in such a way that they could not then change the entry later to make themselves seem older;

c)    young people would be told how to access the digital offer as it was part of the information provided by the school public health service.  The ‘Get It’ programme had been widely promoted and was accessible through youth hubs and numerous outlets frequented by young people;

d)    the County Council was seeking to have a longer contract for the new condom programme so the service would stay with the same provider for a longer period, thus minimising the frequency with which the access details would change.  Members were assured that a longer contract would include the same rigorous performance clauses to ensure that a good quality service was maintained. Kent’s digital offer had increased uptake above that of other neighbouring authorities and would continue to be developed.  A longer contract period would also give service staff more stability of employment;

e)    Kent’s sexual health services  were demand-led, and the County Council had a duty to provide treatment for all people testing positive. The Council had a reserve of cash to cover rises in demand;

f)     in response to a question about the County Council’s scope to own or ‘brand’ a campaign, Mr Gilbert explained that the ‘Get It’ campaign was owned by the provider, Metro.  Where the County Council bought an existing campaign, it would not usually be possible to own the brand and continue to use it with a different provider. Mr Gilbert undertook to liaise with prospective contractors to explore the possibility of negotiating an agreement for Council ownership or perpetual right to use a new brand for the service. He cautioned, however, that potential providers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95