Background to the debate

The health committee published its report on March 21st 2005. The report focused on various issues, including the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers for HIV and Aids on the NHS and attempting to combat the growing problem of ‘health tourism’.

The committee had decided to return to the issue of sexual health after it reported in 2003 that there was “a continuing crisis in sexual health”, supported by recent figures from the Department of Health.

The committee report also focused on sex and relationships education, recommending that all sex and relationship and personal social and health education lessons should be taught by accredited personal social and health education teachers by 2007. It also repeated its 2003 recommendation that personal social and health education should become part of the National Curriculum.

In November 2004, the government published its white paper on public health, admitting that there was an increasing problem with deteriorating sexual health in the UK and set a waiting time of 48 hours for treatment at a sexual health clinic.

Recent developments have seen the launch of a screening programme for chlamydia by the Department of Health to be conducted by pharmacists. The Department has also allocated extra funding for sexual health services across the country.

The debate is likely to cover areas such as, the rise in non-UK nationals being treated on the NHS for HIV and Aids, funding of sexual health services in the UK, the role of the NHS in combating the sexual health crisis and the role of sex and relationships education in preventing infections and teenage pregnancies in young people.
 

Summation of Responses:

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

• Abortion services are an important part of a comprehensive health service.

• UK law does not allow abortion on request, and women can face serious obstacles in accessing abortion services

• There are a number of factors that can contribute to the need for a late abortion, including prolonged delays and barriers to accessing abortion services, and changes in personal circumstances, such as suffering domestic abuse.

Institute of Education

• Welcomes the health committee report, especially the recommendation that all personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons should be taught by accredited PSHE teachers

• Support the recommendation that PSHE be taught as part of the National Curriculum.

National AIDS Trust/Terrence Higgins Trust

• The requirement of 12 months lawful residence in order to receive free HIV treatment prevents significant numbers from accessing urgently needed treatment.

• Many deemed to be ‘chargeable overseas visitors’ under current arrangements are in fact destitute and the prospect of having to pay causes such individuals to refuse treatment.

• There is no credible evidence to suggest that ‘HIV treatment tourism’ exists in the United kingdom.

Full stakeholder responses:

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Institute of Education

National AIDS Trust/Terrence Higgins Trust