Sexual Health in Primary Care
Supporting the delivery of sexual health services across North Yorkshire.
Primary Care plays an important role within the wider sexual health system in North Yorkshire. General Practice and Community Pharmacy services help improve access to contraception, sexual health information, screening, prevention and support, contributing to improved outcomes for individuals and communities.
These services complement the wider integrated sexual health service commissioned by North Yorkshire Council Public Health and support delivery of North Yorkshire's broader sexual health priorities.
Sexual health and the wider system
Sexual health is not the responsibility of any one organisation or service. Achieving positive sexual health outcomes requires collaboration across primary care, specialist services, education, local government, voluntary and community organisations and wider partners.
Primary Care provides an important route for people to access information, advice, screening, contraception and onward referral into specialist services where appropriate.
General Practice
Targeted Primary Care Sexual Health Services are provided by participating GP practices in North Yorkshire in addition to contraceptive services delivered through General Medical Services (GMS) and Personal Medical Services (PMS) contracts.
Providers opting to deliver services through the North Yorkshire Council Approved Provider List are required to deliver the full Sexual Health Basket.
Services include:
- Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) services for women of all ages, including subdermal implants (SDI) and intrauterine contraception (IUD/IUS).
- Chlamydia screening for under 25-year-olds as part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).
- Free condom provision for under 25-year-olds.
- Provision of sexual health information and advice.
This provision aims to increase availability of LARC, contribute to improved uptake of long-acting reversible contraception and support wider access to post-coital intrauterine contraception for emergency contraception.
The service also aims to improve access to self-administered chlamydia screening kits for under 25-year-olds, increase the number of test samples returned for analysis, encourage partner notification, support screening and treatment and promote safer sex practices.
Community Pharmacy
Community Pharmacies play an important role in increasing awareness of, and access to, sexual health information and services within local communities.
Participating pharmacies delivering services through the North Yorkshire Council Approved Provider List are required to deliver the Sexual Health Basket.
Services include:
- Provision of chlamydia screening kits for under 25-year-olds through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).
- Free condom provision for under 25-year-olds.
- Provision of sexual health information, advice and signposting.
This provision aims to improve access to sexual health services, increase the uptake of screening, increase the number of test samples returned for analysis and encourage earlier access to advice and support.
Participating pharmacies also support prevention, early intervention and safer sex practices through advice and information provided to service users.
These services are delivered alongside the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS), commissioned by NHS England through Pharmacy First arrangements, which includes provision of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC).
The Sexual Health Basket
The Sexual Health Basket provides a consistent offer across participating General Practice and Community Pharmacy providers and contributes to delivery of the wider sexual health system in North Yorkshire.
Through these arrangements, Primary Care helps to:
- Improve access to contraception and sexual health services.
- Increase uptake of long-acting reversible contraception.
- Improve access to chlamydia screening and testing.
- Increase distribution and use of condoms.
- Encourage safer sex practices.
- Support partner notification, screening and treatment.
- Provide high-quality sexual health information and advice.
YorSexualHealth
YorSexualHealth is the integrated sexual health service commissioned by North Yorkshire Council Public Health and delivered by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The service provides information, advice, contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV support and a range of specialist sexual health services.
Information for residents, service users and professionals is available through the YorSexualHealth website.
Why Primary Care Matters
Primary Care services provide accessible, community-based opportunities for people to obtain information, advice, screening, prevention and contraception services. They are an important component of North Yorkshire's wider sexual health system and help improve access, reduce inequalities and support positive sexual health outcomes.
Further information
Further information about North Yorkshire's wider sexual health framework, commissioning arrangements and strategic priorities can be found on the main Sexual Health page.
