Key Sexual Health Documents and Websites

  National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV

The Department of Health (DOH) published the National Strategy on Sexual Health and HIV in 2001. The Strategy sets out the governments' long-term commitment to modernise and improve sexual health services in England and Wales over a ten year period and the main aims of the strategy are to:

• Reduce the transmission of HIV and STIs
• Reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV and STIs
• Reduce unintended pregnancy rates
• Improve health and social care for people living with HIV
• Reduce the stigma associated with HIV and STIs

The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV Implementation Action Plan

A 27- point action plan which was published on 24 June 2002. This provides a framework for delivery, sets out detailed milestones and how interventions will be delivered. It also addresses key concerns raised during the DOH consultation on the strategy.

Sexual Health Publications

This page provides links to a wide range of DOH publications under the following headings:

• Sexual Health and HIV Strategy
• HIV/AIDS
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Chlamydia
• Contraception
• Abortion
• Primary Care
• Effective Sexual Health Promotion Toolkit with a number of fact sheets for working with range of priority target groups

Effective Commissioning of Sexual Health and HIV Services: a Sexual Health and HIV Commissioning Toolkit for Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities

This commissioning toolkit has been developed in response to the first national strategy for sexual health and HIV, and the implementation plan published by the Department of Health in June 2002. It represents a wide range of interests and views within sexual health and HIV services and aims to help and support Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in exploring options for improving local services and the contribution they make to improving the sexual health of the population. The toolkit has been designed for PCT commissioning leads and those responsible for leading on sexual health within PCTs, local authorities, and service providers in statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations. Strategic Health Authorities will also find this toolkit useful.

Best Practice Guidance for Doctors & Other Health Professionals on the Provision of Advice & Treatment to Young People under 16 on Contraception, Sexual & Reproductive Health

This guidance relates to the duty of care and duty of confidentiality that doctors and health professionals have to all patients, including under 16s. The guidance applies to the provision of advice and treatment on contraception, sexual and reproductive health, including abortion.

Teenage Pregnancy Unit Website

This website contains information about the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, including guidance issued by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit as well as relevant publications from other Government Departments. There is also information about local implementation of the strategy and details about the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy.

Teenage Pregnancy Strategy

The strategy published by the Government in 1999 sets out a ten year action plan putting in place structures that coordinate action both nationally and locally. This includes a task force of Ministers and an implementation unit led by the Department of Health and at a local level coordinators to pull together all the local services that have a role in preventing teenage pregnancy and supporting those that become parents.

Sexual Health Links
Links to organisations that provide help & advice on pregnancy, contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS & relationships

Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS contacts
Contact details for the sexual health policy team at the Department of Health.

 Bolton Sexual Health Strategy

The Bolton Sexual Health Strategy and Action Plan sets the direction of travel for delivering change and improvement in the sexual health well-being of people living in Bolton. It details the range of sexual health services already being provided throughout the Borough; recognises gaps in current service provision and identifies key issues for action that must be tackled if the increasing trend in STIs is to be reversed.

The Bolton Sexual Health Newsletter

The Bolton Sexual Health Network distributes a newsletter every four months to update workers from statutory and voluntary agencies across Bolton on news, information and developments from the Network with updates on the following:

• Sexual health training from the Bolton Sexual Health Training Pool
• Sexual health resources including new resources produced nationally and locally
• Sexual health services in Bolton highlighting any developments 
• Global, national, regional and local news, conferences and events relating to sexual health