Integrated Sexual Health Services in Coventry & Warwickshire

Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council invited people to take part in this survey to help to inform and shape future local sexual health services.  

The survey focused on gathering feedback to shape the new service focussing on:

• Reducing health inequalities
• Expanding availability of services
• Improving engagement with people with additional and complex needs
• Increased use of ‘at home’ interventions

The survey was open to everyone, an additional Easy Read survey has been developed and is currently with key organisations.

There were 248 responses, of which 74.2% (184) were answering on behalf of themselves, 23% (57) as professionals and others on behalf of someone else or a group.

A good mix of people from Coventry and boroughs/districts in Warwickshire responded – 27.8% (52) Coventry, 5.3% (10) North Warwickshire Borough, 10.7% (20) Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough, 13.4% (25) Rugby Borough, 15% (28) Stratford-in-Avon District, 26.2% (49) Warwick District. In addition there were other people who responded from somewhere else or preferred not to say.

Of the responses, 47.1% had used services in either of the Local Authority areas, 40.1% have never used services, 5.9% used services in both Local Authority areas, 7% used services outside the Local Authority areas, 19.3% had not needed services, the other percentage covered other options.

Key messages when looking at barriers to accessing services included:

• Times / days of opening
• Location of clinics
• No service nearby
• Confidentiality
• Embarrassment
• Poor previous experience
• Not feeling understood
• Other

Additional information was gathered through open text box responses, this gave further insightful information.

The detailed report has been shared with colleagues in Coventry, the information will be used to support the Needs Assessment and be used to ensure the service model section of the Service Specification reflects the needs of the Local Authority residents.

A small number of written responses in the free text boxes have caused concern, these have been taken to the current service providers for immediate action.

All responses will be used in the building of the Service Specification which will become a public document on its completion.

Information will also be used to support the Needs Assessment.