by Claire Taylor

SH.UK named as a provider on new Public Health England e-sexual and reproductive healthcare framework 

SH.UK from Preventx has today been named as a provider on Public Health England’s new e-sexual and reproductive healthcare framework from which local authorities and health services can commission online STI self-sampling and treatment, emergency hormonal contraception and routine contraception services. 

Delivered in partnership with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, commissioners can choose which SH.UK services they would like to provide according to their own local needs and system arrangements. 

Preventx CEO, Ruth Poole said:

“We’re very proud of our SH.UK service offer, which builds on 12 years’ experience delivering online sexual health testing and diagnostics and our established partnership with clinical and prescribing partners, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and LloydsPharmacy

Public Health England have recognised the growing need for safe, person-centred online health services and we’re proud that our partnership, SH.UK can be selected to provide them.” 

Public Health England created the framework to make commissioning online sexual health services easier for local authorities and other healthcare providers by offering convenient, low cost and flexible contracting options with specialist providers working to an approved specification and quality standards. 

SH.UK passed a rigorous application process in which its approaches to technology, safeguarding and clinical governance and prescribing were evaluated closely. Local authority commissioners can commission directly from the framework from today, avoiding sometimes lengthy local procurement processes.

Sara Day, Clinical Lead at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 

“One of the reassuring benefits of our framework offer is that our dedicated team provides safeguarding assurance, and clinical support to service users – whether that’s advice on how to take a sample for an STI test, helping someone understand their diagnosis and treatment options, supporting partner notification or evaluating whether a person should be seen and transitioned to their local clinic, service users are in safe hands. 

Our team of nurses and health advisers have worked (and some continue to work) in physical sexual health clinics as well as online services, so they understand how best to support people when they can’t be physically with them, and at the same time ensure they receive all the right care.”

Andy Sloman, managing director at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor added: 

“We’re thrilled to be working with Preventx and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of Public Health England to help take some of the pressures away from sexual health clinics and GP surgeries so that they can focus on looking after patients that need a face to face consultation. We’re keen to continue offering more digital sexual health services to support local health commissioners and the communities they serve”. 

To learn more about how to work with SH.UK, please see our information page www.sh.uk/phe

About the author:

Claire is the Senior Digital Marketing Executive at Preventx.