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Risk Management is an approach to improving the quality and safety of health care by identifying circumstances that put patients and staff at risk and acting to prevent or control those risks. The overall aim of any risk management strategy is to make the effective management of risk part of everyday practice. This can only be achieved if there is a comprehensive and cohesive framework in place, underpinned by clear accountability arrangements across the organisation.

FSRH’s Clinical Standards Committee puts its updated clinical standard ‘Service Standards for Risk Management in Sexual and Reproductive Health’ out for public consultation.

FSRH Service Standards for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

Consultation on this document will be open until 18 November 2016. Please send any feedback to policyassistant@fsrh.org.

Consultation - Service Standards for Sexual and Reprductive Healthcare May 2016

Risk Management is an approach to improving the quality and safety of health care by identifying circumstances that put patients and staff at risk and acting to prevent or control those risks.

With the introduction of the process of revalidation for doctors, appraisal has been standardised and this has been supported by the Medical Appraisal Guide, Model Appraisal Form Guidance for this has already been published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare outlining what supporting evidence should be provided at appraisal.

A quality contraceptive service is vital in giving women and men of all ages choice and control over their reproduction, and is key to avoiding unplanned pregnancies and planning families. Contraception is a highly cost-effective intervention, which plays an important public health role in improving the lives of individuals, families and communities.

These Standards are recommended for organisations providing contraceptive/sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including pregnancy planning, pregnancy choices, abortion, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as sexual wellbeing and health promotion.

The above committees have agreed that Clinical Effectiveness Unit Guidance on use of contraceptives is guidance on “common practice” and “current practice” in the use of these medicines and devices. Therefore it is recommended that it may not be necessary for clinicians to document every occasion when a contraceptive preparation is prescribed outside the product licence if such use falls within current guidance issued by the Faculty’s Clinical Effectiveness Unit.