Agenda item

The report updated the Commission on the proposed future delivery of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) to young people.  This was in relation to the cessation of the sexual health service offered through pharmacies.  Peterborough had for a number of years had a high rate of teenage pregnancy and poor sexual health for some young people.  The latest data for 2009 was 171 pregnancies for young women under the age of 18 in Peterborough.  Work was being done to improve services in Peterborough for children and young people.  Teenage pregnancy rates had continued at the rate of 168 to 170.  Members were informed that there was evidence that teenage pregnancy rates would fall over time by having access to long acting reversible contraception and that young people’s sexual health would improve.  Funding for the pharmacy based sexual health service which provided free EHC, Chlamydia Screening and condoms to the under 25 population had ended in August 2010.  The PCT took the decision not to main stream the scheme going forward because the uptake of the scheme had not been popular to young people due to access issues through the pharmacies.  Young people’s contraceptive and sexual health services had been reviewed and as a result of the review there had been a greater uptake of long acting reversible contraception. The numbers had doubled between 2008/09 and 2009/10 with over 300 extra young women requesting long acting reversible contraception.  A decision was taken to increase the skills of school nurses to enable them to support young people and talk about the issues around sexual health, providing contraceptive advice and where necessary prescribing emergency hormonal contraception.  A more sustainable approach was being looked at like offering access in secondary schools, the drop in clinics, the contraceptive and sexual health services at Rivergate, increasing access to the young people’s contraceptives service in GP practices and a range of other services.  The Assistant Director for Public Health provided the Commission with examples of marketing and publicity material for young people which promoted the sexual health services and where they could get advice.

Observations and questions were raised and discussed including:

·         How do you reach the young people who leave school at 14 and also those at schools which do not have the Health and Young People Advice (HYPA) clinics?  Young people not attending secondary schools that may be at high risk and were attending Pupil Referral Units would be covered by this scheme.  There was still a lot of work to be done with the schools who were not part of the scheme to convince them of the benefits of providing a HYPA clinic at school.  The marketing campaign targeted places that young people go to like pubs and clubs.  An example was beer mats giving details of where to get advice.  Facebook and Twitter was also being used.

·         Members commented that the marketing was very good. 

·         Where were the hotspots in the city and could statistics be provided to show each area and how the campaign had impacted on those areas.  Information would be provided on the hotspots and any current data available.

·         Was it the intention to have a HYPA clinic in every secondary school?  Currently they were provided in the hotspot areas but ideally every school would have one.

·         Councillor Fower felt that the marketing and publicity had missed some key areas to engage with young people.  The Assistant Director for Public Health requested a meeting with Councillor Fower to discuss further ways of getting the message across to young people.

·         To what extent have young people been consulted about the access to services?  Young people had been widely consulted and the results of consultations had informed the process.

·         What do the pharmacies think about the new proposals?  The Pharmaceutical Committee had been consulted on the review and there would be further discussions with them about targeting hotspots across Peterborough. 

ACTION AGREED

1. That the Commission noted the report.

2. The Assistant Director for Public Health to contact Councillor Fower to discuss different ways to engage with young people through marketing and publicity.

3. That further information to be provided to the Commission on the hotspot areas of the city and the impact the marketing campaign may have had on these areas.