May 2019 issue of the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health & HIV Policy e-Bulletin is out today

The May 2019 issue covers the unexpected news earlier this month that the sexual health charity FPA was to cease trading and go into voluntary liquidation. This edition also highlights the new Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) regulations that are now enshrined in law as well as a new position statement by FSRH, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) on holistic, integrated SRH commissioning, endorsed by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges (AoMRC). In this month’s eFeature, Dr Catherine Schunmann discusses challenges to the integration of sexual health and SRH.

The FPA, an eBulletin coalition partner, has been a key player in the sexual health field for many years, delivering education and training, producing a wide range of high-quality resources and undertaking important vital campaigning and advocacy work. The news of its liquidation has been met with great sadness across the sector.

On a more positive note, there have been a number of promising developments since the March edition: the new Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) regulations have passed all the final parliamentary hurdles and are now enshrined in law; the Department for Education has agreed to fund access to free sanitary products in all primary and secondary schools and colleges; FSRH, RCOG and RCGP have published a position statement on holistic, integrated SRH commissioning, endorsed by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges (AoMRC); and the Government has appointed its first National Adviser for LGBT Health.

In this month’s eFeature, Dr Catherine Schunmann, SRH Consultant in Norwich, considers the policy push over recent years to move towards integrating sexual health and SRH services. Dr Catherine Schunmann draws on experience in Norfolk and the wider East Anglian region and other research to date to look at whether integrating services has improved access for those who are vulnerable and need them most.

Read the May 2019 issue here. If you would like to receive the next issues directly in your e-mail inbox, please subscribe.

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