Decision details

The Committee considered a Members’ Item in the name of Councillor Julie Johnson in relation to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). 

At the request of the Chairman, Dr Andrew Howe (Joint Director for Public Health) responded to the questions set out in the Members’ Item as follows:

The national press seems to suggest that there has been an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STD's):

1.         Have Barnet's figures increased in the last two / three years and, if so, by how much?

          Whilst Barnet has rates of STD infection below the national average, the rates have been increasing in recent years.  The latest data shows that new diagnoses rose 4.3% in 2012 to 2,857 cases up from 2,739 in 2011.

2.         Does Barnet have sufficient resources to deal with any extra demand?

There is open access to Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) services in the UK so residents are able to access services wherever they choose.  The providers that the largest number of Barnet residents access are Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital.

3.         As education about STD's is part of the national curriculum, can we have some feedback and how this is managed in our schools, including Barnet's looked after children?”

The 1996 Education Act indicates that schools must provide, and make available for inspection, an up-to-date policy describing the content and organisation of Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) outside of national curriculum science. This is a school governors’ responsibility.

Historically SRE provision has been enormously variable.  Curricular resources, training opportunities and ‘clinic in a box’ sexual health advice and contraception services are being made available to Barnet Schools as part of the School Wellbeing Programme funded by Public Health.

For looked after children, sexual health is incorporated in to the Health Assessment which all young people in care receive and advice/guidance is provided to residential care homes. In addition SRE workshops are delivered to the units that accommodate our looked after asylum seekers and a workshop is delivered in partnership with the Leaving Care Team as part of their outreach work.

The Committee thanked the Joint Director for Public Health for the information and RESOLVED that no further action was required in relation to this Members’ Item.