07-03-2025
Cumberland Council set to look at recommissioning sexual health services
A PROPOSAL to recommission sexual health services in the Cumberland Council area will be examined next week.
Members of Cumberland Council's health overview and scrutiny committee are due to meet at the Civic Centre in Carlisle on Thursday, March 13, to consider the report, titled Recommissioning of Integrated Sexual Health Services.
According to the report the council has a statutory duty to provide a range of sexual health services to its population under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
The report states: 'These services provide comprehensive open access sexual health services, including free STI testing and treatment, notification of sexual partners of infected persons, advice on and reasonable access to a broad range of contraception and advice on preventing unplanned pregnancy.
'This report provides the members of the health overview and scrutiny committee with the details of the plans for the recommissioning of the Integrated Sexual Health Service.'
It is recommended that members consider the plans in the report for the recommissioning of the services and provide a response to the executive committee for their meeting on March 27.
The report states: 'Permission from the executive committee is being sought for Cumberland Council to enter into an agreement with Westmorland & Furness Council in order to procure a Cumbriawide Integrated Sexual Health Service for a period of up to 10 years, a six-year initial term plus an optional extension of up to four years.
'Westmorland & Furness Council will be the lead authority and will undertake the procurement and contract with the with the successful provider on behalf of both councils. The estimated value of Cumberland's contribution over the full 10-year term is a maximum of £20 million.'
In addition they are asked to delegate authority to the director of public health and communities to agree to the award of the Cumbriawide contract following the conclusion of the procurement process.
