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
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Birchington & Rural; Broadstairs; Cliftonville; Margate; Ramsgate;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 23/03/2020
Decision due: Not before 21st Apr 2020 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: in order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Andrew Scott-Clark
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Vicky Tovey, Public Health Senior Commissioning Manager 03000 416779 Email: victoria.tovey@kent.gov.uk Email: victoria.tovey@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
Over December 2017 and January 2018, public health undertook stakeholder insights work to understand the views of stakeholders which established the need for improving clinics and creating an offer with a more flexible service to meet commuter hours. To date, an interim solution has been in place while a suitable site was located.
The Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee have previously endorsed the sexual health commissioning strategy which highlighted the need to identify a suitable site in to deliver an integrated specialist sexual health service in Thanet.
The draft decision paperwork was shared with the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee informally in May 2020 as committee meetings are suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and support for the proposal was expressed.
Financial implications: Total of £2,868,000 over 15 years o Year 1 (2020/21) Total of £894,000 including £753,000 construction works and £141,000 rental and utilities. o Year 2 onwards (until 2035/36) Total of £141,000 per annum, including rental and utilities.
Legal implications: The works and lease agreement will be managed by KCC Infrastructure, who will obtain all necessary consents from solicitors and required works from qualified surveyors.
Equalities implications: An Equality Analysis/Impact Assessment (EqIA) is included the decision paperwork Data Protection implications There are no anticipated data protection implications from this decision.