33. Evidence submitted by the Family Planning
Association (PPI 82)
Further to the announcement that the Health
Select Committee is to conduct an inquiry into patient and public
involvement in the NHS and knowing the committee's interest regarding
sexual health, I am writing to highlight some issues of concern
to fpa about the impact of public involvement on sexual health
services.
fpa welcomes opportunities for the views of
patients and members of the public to be taken into account during
the development of health services and for people to make decisions
about the care they receive. For example, ensuring access to information
and the ability to make informed choices are fundamental to enabling
women to use contraceptive methods safely and effectively. [20]
In addition, we know that taking the views and
needs of all service users into account can encourage some people
to use services more frequently, particularly those in harder
to reach groups. There is evidence that services can actively
discourage the involvement of boys and young men, through their
publicity, their image in the community, the attitudes of staff
or even their waiting area. Therefore, taking the views of people
likely to use the service into account is a vital way of improving
their access. [21]
However, fpa is concerned that an over-emphasis
on the need for there to be strong patient calls in favour of
services may lead to some services being neglected. Sexual health
services, by their nature, do not lend themselves to concerted
local support campaigns. The stigma that is still attached to
sexually transmitted infections and to abortion mean that few
people, even those who use the services, would be willing to campaign
in favour of service provision.
There is already evidence that funding for sexual
health and contraceptive services is being cut due to NHS funding
pressures and there is a risk that already stretched trusts could
be tempted to focus investment on those services for which there
is vocal support. This would be detrimental to all sexual health
services, including genitourinary medicine clinics, community
contraceptive services and abortion services.
fpa is keen for people to be involved in decisions
about their care and about health services. However, it is important
that this does not happen at the expense of the development of
vital but low profile services.
We would be very pleased to come and talk to
your committee if you would find that helpful.
Anne Weyman OBE
Chief Executive
Family Planning Association
9 January 2007
20 Kishen, Meera and Belfield, Toni, "Contraception
in Crisis", Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health
Care, 2006: 32 (4). Back
21
Allen, I, in Coleman J, and Roker, D (eds), Teenage Sexuality;
Health, Risk and Education, Harwood Academic Publishers, 1998. Back
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