Sexual Health London supporting clinics through the pandemic

13th March 2021 by Kate Ebbutt

“At the height of the pandemic, Preventx did everything they possibly could to reduce pressure on clinics. The dedicated laboratory meant we could increase the service to support people with mild symptoms. Everything we asked for that was possible, was done without hesitation.”  

Adrian Kelly, Lead Commissioner Sexual Health London, City of London Corporation 

Support during the pandemic  

More than half of the one million tests have been ordered during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling people to stay safe at a critical time for the NHS while it tackled coronavirus.  

As sexual health clinic capacity reduced during the pandemic, SHL.UK enabled more people to order tests online, by opening the service to people with mild symptoms and introducing a new option for people to order contraception. 

At the outbreak of the pandemic, the SHL.UK partnership worked quickly with commissioners at City of London to devise a number of responses to enable more people to test online.  

SHL & Lloyds Pharmacy

Early responses included allowing people who needed a test of cure (treatment) to go to SHL.UK rather than return to clinic as well as opening the service to people reporting with mild symptoms. 

The team also developed an online contraception service that enables eligible people over the age of 16 to order regular contraception (combined contraceptive pill, progestogen only pill, contraceptive patch, vaginal ring contraceptive) or the emergency contraceptive pill online. Prescriptions are managed by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor. This service was developed in just six months, a remarkably quick turnaround in public service development. 

SHL.UK

SHL.UK is an STI testing service is for people who have mild or no STI symptoms and want to get themselves checked. When someone tests positive for chlamydia, we can offer them treatment, subject to a clinical consultation. The service also offers contraception.

Partnership

The SHL.UK testing service is run through a partnership between Preventx, who provide the online platform and dedicated laboratory testing, LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, who provide contraception and chlamydia treatment, and clinical leadership from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

SHL.UK is commissioned through the London Sexual Health Programme, a partnership of 30 London local authorities working to increase access to sexual health services. 

SHL.UK is commissioned through the London Sexual Health Programme, a partnership of 30 London local authorities working to increase access to sexual health services.