Issue - meetings

To receive the report of Fulya Yahioglu, Senior Service Development Manager, Adult Substance, Misuse & Sexual Health.

The Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel is asked to consider and comment on the report prior to it going to Cabinet on 8 February 2023.

(This item will contain exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.)

The Panel AGREED that the Part 1 and Part 2 reports be taken together as there were no press or public present at the meeting.

Councillor Alev Cazimoglu, Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care introduced the report and said that this had come to the Scrutiny Panel prior to going to Cabinet on 8 February 2023 and would reflect the comments and contributions made by the panel at tonight’s meeting.

Dudu Sher-Arami, Director of Public Health and Fulya Yahioglu, Senior Service Development Manager, Adult Substance Misuse & Sexual Health highlighted the key points of the report which was to seek approval from Cabinet to enter into a partnership agreement between Enfield Council and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust (NMUH) for the delivery of the Enfield Integrated Sexual Health Community Services in accordance with Section 75 of the National Health Service Act (2006) consisting of Family Planning & Contraception, STI testing and treatment, sexual health outreach and services to support young people.

Information was provided on the current contract for delivery of sexual health services in Enfield which is due to end on the 31 March 2023 when the final 2-year extension of this contract comes to an end. Uptake in sexual health service provision in Enfield is good and has steadily increased with performance being sustained throughout the term of the contract. This has been complemented by a reduction in Enfield residents attending clinics out of borough with the implementation of the Hub and spoke mode of delivery in 2018. Placing sexual health provision under a Section 75 agreement between Enfield Council and NMUH will better enhance partnership working allowing for service development and redesign as well as innovation in delivery with the use of digital technology as presented during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will allow for better integration with community services, a key objective for the Council and NMUH, to support the sexual health and reproductive needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised, improve the local service offer to residents, deliver value for money and improve performance and quality.

Further information was provided on the national policy, local context, current service provision as well as the proposed model of service delivery in Enfield.

Following the update from Officers, in depth discussions took place which included reference to the information included in the Part 2 report and Officers responded to questions and comments raised.

The Panel noted the report and welcomed the proposals.