Statement content in Sexual Health

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes the report published today by the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, entitled The Time is Now: Achieving World Class Contraceptive and Abortion Services. The report highlights current inequities in access and provision, and calls for better public information, improved commissioning of services, and the implementation of a workforce development strategy.

 - working together for high quality sexual health. Review of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV (July 2008)

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) support the recommendations in the IAGSH report on national, regional and local sexual healthcare provision.

The current disinvestment in sexual and reproductive health services as evidence by the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare (FFPRHC) survey in February 2007, and the closure of community-based services will have long-term consequences for the nation’s sexual health.

The RCOG is very concerned about the widespread closure of family planning and sexual health clinics in the UK.