Privatisation of Sexual Health services
Newcastle City Council commissions private firms to run Sexual Health services in Newcastle
It is appalling that Newcastle City Council have seen fit to award the contract for Sexual Health services to two private companies: Solutions 4 Health and Preventx.
This new contract is due to commence on 1st October 2023. Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, the current providers, claim they were unable to submit a sustainable bid within the funding being offered, which seems to suggest that the funding provided from October will only provide for a reduced or inferior service. It is important to highlight that Solutions 4 Health and Preventx will also be creaming off a proportion of the funding for shareholders – so even less money to be spent on services for patients. We can only speculate about the type of service to be provided in the future.
23rd November 2023: Freedom of Information request
Following discussion at KONPNE meetings, it remains clear that there remains much dissatisfaction with the privatisation of what was an established, well-used and effective clinical service provided by a NHS team. Following the FOI from KONPNE to Newcastle City Council, the following responses were received from the Council today . To be discussed at the next KONPNE meeting on 7th December.
Date:23/11/2023
Dear KONPNE
Our Response to your Freedom of Information Request: FOI 21500
Thank you for your request received on 03/11/2023.
Please find our responses below:
Q:1 Was a Strategic Needs Assessment completed before the new Newcastle sexual health services were commissioned and, if so, when and where can we see this assessment?
The Newcastle specialist integrated sexual health services were procured through a competitive tender exercise in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Newcastle Council’s financial regulations. As part of this, a comprehensive consultation and engagement exercise was undertaken which informed a comprehensive needs assessment which can be found using this link FINAL SHNA 2023.pdf (newcastle.gov.uk)
Q:2 How does the new contracted service meet with the Governmental guidance around the need for a “one-stop shop” for sexual health services?
The new contracted service is based on population need. The service aims to deliver all council commissioned sexual health services on a single site whilst also offering a digital service which has been commissioned to seamlessly integrate with the clinical service.
Q:3 How will the Council monitor the effectiveness and quality of the new Newcastle sexual health services?”
and regularly informed by local review and service user feedback.
Wed 6th September 5.30pm
Demo – Against Privatisation of Sexual Health Services
This evening, 6th September 2023, members of KONPNE, the public and NHS professionals gathered outside Newcastle City Council chambers at the time of the full Council meeting to question Councillors and to make our views known – although many of the Councillors we met were not involved in this specific commissioning process, our views were received loud and clear. In addition to concern about the future of the service, our thoughts are also with the current highly-regarded and professional multidisciplinary NHS workforce who are each faced with difficult decisions regarding future employment. This is an appalling situation for the city and for the NHS workforce.
KONPNE is awaiting a Freedom of Information request from the city council regarding their decision-making processes, and a further FOI has been forwarded to Newcastle Hospitals this week – September 2023.
Protesters at Newcastle Civic Centre, 6th September 2023
Links:
Good sexual health services are vital for the health of the whole population, this was recognised in 1916, way before the founding of the NHS, when free, confidential diagnosis and treatment of STIs was established.
Ian Fleming, Unison’s Head of Health has commented:
“Research shows that direct public service provision improves quality for people using services, and of course is good use of public money, as it is being invested back into public services. “
konpnortheast.com 