East Sussex Specialist Sexual Health Services

East Sussex Specialist Sexual Health Services.

East Sussex County Council invites bidders to respond to this invitation to tender, for the provision of Specialist Sexual Health Services for three years, with the option to extend by up to twenty-four months.

Procurement for the new contracts for specialist sexual health services will be undertaken in collaboration with NHS England, who commission the HIV treatment and care services, and the Lewes prison sexual health and HIV treatment and care in-reach services. These services are interlinked with the specialist sexual health service.

The new contracts will start 01 April 2024 and will be for 3 years with an option to extend up to 24 months. Tender submissions due 04 September 2023.

A single contracting provider is sought for the integrated sexual health service, which aims to improve sexual health outcomes by:

• Promoting good sexual health through primary prevention activities including, education, condom provision, partner tracing, immunisation, contraception, behaviour change and activities which aim to reduce the stigma associated with GUM conditions, HIV and unintended and unwanted pregnancy.
• Providing rapid and easy access to GUM, STI and BBV assessment, testing, treatment and management services through a variety of mechanisms which primarily includes an interdependent working partnership with the main digital service provider.
• Providing rapid and easy access to the full range of contraceptive services for those who cannot access primary care.
• Support referral to NHS funded induced abortion services and support in planning pregnancy using contraception through a variety of mechanisms which include digital services, supporting colleagues in youth, maternity, abortion and those working with vulnerable groups to be able to offer discussion and assessment and provision of contraception to their service users.
• Reducing late diagnosis of HIV and undiagnosed HIV through partner notification, access to testing, Pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and improving the sexual health of those using PreP and living with HIV.
• Providing a service with appropriately trained staff; clear and effective operational and clinical governance; and patient safety arrangements.
• Being responsive to local need (a) providing rapid response to outbreak management; and (b) through continuous improvement and response to local population need.
• Operating as leader to the local sexual health system providing clinical leadership, workforce training, technical appraisal, public education, involvement in local networks and mentoring and development of clear referral pathways between providers.