www.sexualhealthnetwork.co.uk

Clock strikes midnight on ‘Cinderella’ services for Greater Manchester…

On Thursday 27th May 2004 the clock struck midnight on what have been described as ‘Cinderella’ services in Greater Manchester. The day saw the launch of the UK’s first fully integrated Sexual Health Network, which will ensure future services are planned and delivered in an integrated way to address the aims of the national strategy.

In the area, there are already well-established clinical networks, supporting the development of cancer services, coronary heart disease, renal and children’s services – amongst others. This Network provides a great opportunity for all of the sexual health services across Greater Manchester to raise their profile and develop services to address the decline in sexual health.

Working Together….

By working together and encouraging the active involvement and participation of all key stakeholders, the Sexual Health Network will:

Strategy and delivery

• develop, in accordance with national policies and guidance, a long-term strategy for sexual health services across Greater Manchester - ensuring it’s compatible with
  individual sector plans.
• introduce structures and mechanisms that will ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to providing sexual health.
• deliver high quality, equitable sexual health services that are designed to improve the health and well-being of the population.
• establish a system to oversee collective commissioning and service development arrangements for sexual health services across the nation.

Clinical governance, quality assurance

• develop and implement systems to monitor services and ensure they are appropriate and founded on current evidence-based practice - and are clinically safe.

Workforce development and education

• evolve a dynamic, innovative and creative culture that embraces the views and expert knowledge of service users, carers and support organizations.
• create an environment of continuous service improvement through active research, training, teaching, learning and education, workforce development and the dissemination of good practice.

Multi-agency working

• attract and secure national investment for sexual health services in Greater Manchester.
• work with our local partners, influencing their service delivery plans and performance priorities’ frameworks.

The Network has also recently launched its new website, which includes detailed information about the Network organisation and its aims, has full contact listings for GUM & Family Planning services in Greater Manchester and a Sexual Health Community Forum – where you can download documents on the Network’s development, find out about current sexual health news and events and also keep up-to-date on new related policies, guidance and information…..www.sexualhealthnetwork.co.uk

For more information on the Network, please contact the Network Project Administrator, Martin Jones on 0161 219 9468 (martin.jones@manchester.nhs.uk) or visit the new website: www.sexualhealthnetwork.co.uk

 

 

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