FSRH in the media: final report APPG SRH Inquiry into Access to Contraception

The final report of the Inquiry into Access to Contraception by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health (APPG SRH) was launched in mid-September leveraging good coverage by national media. The press covered issues affecting women’s access to contraception in England and key recommendations by the Parliamentarians, many of which FSRH strongly supports.

An opinion piece for i news by popular influencer Dame Diana Johnson MP, Chair of the APPG SRH, discusses the findings of the Parliamentary Inquiry, outlining the problems with funding and commissioning of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (SRH) services in England.

The BBC covered the report quoting FSRH President Dr Asha Kasliwal on the pressure COVID-19 has added to the SRH system. BBC Radio 4’s Six O’Clock News highlighted (listen in from 25.38):

“The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health calls contraception a human right, and an essential part of healthcare”

“The Inquiry says coronavirus has added further pressure to an overstretched and underfunded service […] it has recommended the introduction of a single commissioning body to improve accountability.”

“Women have to navigate a complicated and time-consuming system.”

The Guardian featured the challenges women face to access Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in primary care:

“Long waiting times for contraception and a lack of GPs trained to offer long-acting reversible contraceptives such as the implant or intrauterine device – the most effective reversible forms of contraception – are among the problems identified by the inquiry, with some women having to travel long distances to access the contraception they need.”

You can read more on Elle, Stylist, Yahoo Style and Evening Standard.

The APPG SRH report, including an Executive Summary, is available here.