Health: Contraceptive Services

Lord Cashman Excerpts

Thursday 11th October 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord O’Shaughnessy]

Local authority budgets will of course be a matter for the spending review that will take place at some point during the next year.

[Lord Cashman (Lab)]

My Lords, I have raised this with the Minister on previous occasions as patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust. I share the concerns of my noble friend Lady Thornton that the vulnerable groups who need access to sexual health services are at the moment being denied that very access. Does he agree that a lack of access for these vulnerable groups will impact negatively on the health of the nation?

[Lord O’Shaughnessy]

I agree that there can be a negative impact. Indeed, one of the things that Public Health England has done recently is publish a consensus statement about sexual and reproductive health policy and actions, and it is updating its action plan. Nevertheless, it is important to point out that there were more attendances in clinics in 2017 than in 2013, which shows that it is possible to get appointments to be seen.