The Health and Social Care Committee has written to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) with recommendations to strengthen England’s sexual and reproductive health services.
Following an evidence session with experts in policy and frontline delivery, the Committee heard of fragmented services, limited resources, and widespread misinformation.
Its main recommendation is for DHSC to develop a national strategy for sexual and reproductive health, supported by sustainable funding. Such a strategy — last published in 2013 — should clarify which services are provided by the NHS and local authorities, reducing confusion and delays in access. The Committee also calls for a unified framework that integrates existing approaches to HIV, women’s health, and LGBT+ health under one coherent vision.
Experts suggested using A&E waiting rooms to offer screenings for infections such as HIV and syphilis. The Committee’s letter further recommends expanding screening opportunities through GP registration, school nurses, and other healthcare interactions to improve access, reduce stigma, and reach underserved communities.
To address workforce shortages, the Committee urges DHSC to increase funded training posts for sexual healthcare specialists as part of the NHS 10-Year Workforce Plan. With only 14 posts available for 1,400 applicants this year and one-third of the workforce expected to retire by 2028, action is described as urgent.
Finally, the Committee highlights the need for better access to postal testing kits. It recommends national coordination of online testing platforms — akin to Wales’s centralised postal kit service — to improve availability, discretion, and efficiency while avoiding duplication across local services.
