When someone requests a sexual health test online, they are also asked a series of questions to explore any risks around abuse, safety and exploitation. The questions they are asked may differ based on their age. Where information was provided that indicates that they may be at risk, that information was sent to health boards for ongoing assessment and safeguarding action. This is usual practice and sexual health services have in place safeguarding protocols with oversight as part of their clinical governance. However, this was not in line with our statutory duty to assess and also report safeguarding information to the individual’s local authority.
The ongoing improvement and learning from the incident will include a review of the questions we ask those using the service, to ensure these are based on best practice.
We have also identified some young people who were not asked the appropriate safeguarding questions. This happened in cases where a person incorrectly stated they were over 18 earlier in the process, but indicated via their date of birth that they were under 18.