We are researching the use of online sexual health testing services. These services allow citizens concerned that they may have a sexually transmitted infection to order a test kit to be sent to their home, and then to either self-test at home, or return a sample to the laboratory, receive a result usually via email or text message, and to obtain medicines and further advice if required. The services are part of local government public health responsibilities
Please answer the following questions in relation to online sexual health services.
1. Does the authority commission or procure these services
2. In each of the financial periods 2021-22, 2022-23, April 2023 to December 2023
a. How much did the authority spend overall on sexual health testing services
b. How much did the authority spend on online services
c. How many citizens were tested using online services
3. How much was spent (by the authority or predecessor organisations) in each period with each of the following providers for online sexual health services
a. Preventx
b. SH 24
c. TDL or their NHS joint venture, Health Service Laboratories
d. Viapath
e. Synlab or their joint venture, Synnovis
f. Lloyd’s pharmacy
g. NHS Trusts/ their laboratory services
h. Other. Please name any provider where the spend in any year exceeded £100,000
4. When did the authority last issue a tender for these services
5. When does the current contract expire
Thank you for your request dated 31st January 2024.
Does the authority commission or procure these services?
PHW is the lead provider and uses a mixed approach for provision of the overall service, some elements are procured whilst others are provided ‘in-house’ and follow up treatment is provided by the sexual health services in the health boards.
In each of the financial periods 2021-22, 2022-23, April to December 2024
How much did the authority spend on these services
|
Financial Period |
All Wales spend |
|
April 2021 - March 2022 |
£2,836,437 |
|
April 2022 – March 2023 |
£3,239,169 |
|
April 2023 – December 2023 |
£2,469,530 |
How many citizens were tested using online services
The number of kit orders for each period were:
|
April 2021 - March 2022 |
89725 |
|
April 2022 – March 2023 |
102489 |
|
April 2023 – December 2023 |
76898 |
The number of individuals tested to the end of 2022 is available in the report: Sexual Health in Wales: Sexually Transmitted Infections, Emergency and Long-acting Reversible Contraception provision and Termination of Pregnancy Annual report 2023 (Data to end of 2022) https://phw.nhs.wales/publications/publications1/sexual-health-annual-report-2023/
However, please note these figures are given by calendar year not fiscal.
The number of tests done as returned by type were:
|
Test |
April 21 -March 22 |
April 22 -March 23 |
April 23 -December 23
|
|
Chlamydia |
111693 |
129376 |
98034 |
|
Gonorrhoea |
111693 |
129387 |
98034 |
|
HIV |
35664 |
40114 |
29494 |
|
Syphilis |
35817 |
40268 |
29627 |
|
Hep B sAg |
35699 |
40172 |
29552 |
|
HCV |
35756 |
40185 |
29552 |
How much was spent (by the authority or predecessor organisations) in each period with each of the following providers for online sexual health services
Please name any provider where the spend in any year exceeded £100,000
Again, it’s an All-Wales service and is costed as such – the only external services used currently are HSL Pathology (for kit fulfilment and lab processing) and Signum Health (ordering platform):
|
Financial Period
|
All Wales spend |
|
|
|
HSL |
Signum |
|
April 2021 - March 2022 |
785,730.50 |
87,200 |
|
April 2022 – March 2023 |
2,521,646.50 |
114,224 |
|
April 2023 – December 2023 |
1,887,744.08 |
108,824 |
When did the authority last issue a tender for these services
Tender for All Wales service for ordering platform only was issued last summer and awarded from April 1st 2024 for 5 +1 +1
HSL via a framework HealthTrust Europe
When does the current contract expire
In 5+1+1 years from April 2024 for ordering platform only
HSL April 2025 + 1
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the decision, you should write to the Corporate Complaints Manager, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, 3, Number 2, Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner for Wales
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Email: wales@ico.org.uk