Sexual health public engagement summary

Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees gathered feedback about sexual health services through an engagement strategy in late 2014. The team took a variety of approaches to gather feedback including targeted sessions with specific community groups. In total, 56 refugees and asylum seekers, and 48 young people provided feedback. The final report was aimed to influence the recommissioning process for sexual health services and improve service user experience.

The report highlights two key findings; that young people were not always aware of how to access sexual health services, and that the services are not always delivered in a culturally appropriate way. Issues of access to the services were also raised in the report, such as opening times not suitable for people in education, and the location of services. Some respondents were concerned about the time and expense to travel to services. The importance of confidentiality and anonymity was emphasised by all the groups, suggesting they were more likely to use services if they were discrete.

Five recommendations were included in the report. Firstly, to explore the current delivery of HIV screening in more culturally appropriate methods, to ensure awareness of services through a variety of methods to facilitate communication with all community groups. Ease of access should be considered as part of the new service specification, and for the local Healthwatch to ensure that these findings are iterated to Healthwatch England.

The report did not include a response from the service provider.