Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

366. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the development of the new sexual health strategy in line with the Government’s commitment given in the recently published Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 to review and develop a new strategy for 2021; the person or body that will be developing the strategy; the consultations that will take place; the terms of reference for the development of the new strategy; the specific considerations being given to including provisions for women’s health including sexual and reproductive health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31112/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015.  It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age.  It also recognises the importance of challenging stigma and discrimination and creating positive cultural change to promote open communication about relationships, sexuality, and sexual health and wellbeing.

Current priority deliverables under the Strategy are HIV prevention, including the continued expansion of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which commenced in late 2019. Other key areas of work include expanding access to contraception, free of charge, through the National Condom Distribution Service; sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, progressing a population survey on sexual health and improving sexual health education, training and resources, including in schools, higher and further education.

A mid-term review of the Sexual Health Strategy was commissioned by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) and carried out in 2018 which outlines the progress made in the implementation of the strategy.  The key contributors to success highlighted in the report include the composition and expertise of the programme team, the cross functional approach (education, training, communications, funding, research, clinical) and the strong engagement and collaboration with stakeholders throughout all aspects of implementation of the strategy. 

A Mapping exercise and Needs Assessment of existing clinical sexual health services and laboratory services was also conducted, and a series of reports published in 2018. Following publication of the reports, two consultation workshops were hosted by the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) in May 2018. These workshops were held as a means of engaging key stakeholders with the findings from the needs assessment and the mapping exercise and to identify areas for action in relation to sexual health services in Ireland. These actions have informed the development of subsequent annual SHCPP business plans.

Given the breadth of the Strategy, its original aims and objectives will remain relevant beyond 2020. It has therefore been agreed with the SHCPP to extend the lifetime of the current Strategy to the end of 2021. It was originally intended to review and refresh the Strategy in 2020, but this was postponed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, work on this review, led by the Department of Health, has now commenced in Q2, 2021.

The review process is currently underway; the initial phase consists of focus group meetings with key stakeholders, including clinical and public health staff, the SHCPP team, those working in the STI clinics, the Education sector, the Department of Health and Women’s Health Taskforce, the research and academic sector and organisations representing the LGBTI+ community. The views of stakeholders are being collated and the Strategy will be reviewed, in order to inform the future direction of the next iteration of the strategy. The terms of reference of the new Strategy will be determined following the conclusions of the review process, but will include current areas of work, which remain fully funded.

Women’s health has been given significant priority in the Department; the future direction of this area of work is currently being considered by the Department’s Women’s Health Taskforce, in collaboration with a range of external stakeholders and partners, including the HSE and NWCI. This work will be carried out in parallel and in co-ordination with development of the next National Sexual Health Strategy.