Sexual health is going local. In April 2013, Local Authorities take on responsibility for public health.
A key part of this will be running sexual health services. These currently cost about £700 million per year nationwide – about a third of Local Authorities’ expected budgets for public health. But this is much less than the cost of ignoring sexual health.
Services include testing and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and contraception services. Support services for people with HIV are already commissioned by Local Authorities.
If you are a councillor or work for a Local Authority, we want to help you make a success of sexual health.
HIV and Sexual Health: 5 things councillors can do is a brief guide for councillors on how you can ensure you support sexual health in your area.
Sexual health: a guide for councillors gives more information on how needs assessments and public health plans should include sexual health and innovate to create better and more cost-effective services.