£2.6m put into health services

TOWN hall chiefs in Tameside have extended their sexual health services contract for a further two years at a cost of £2.6m.

The strategic commissioning board voted to renew an arrangement with the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) to deliver sex and reproductive health services out of Ashton Primary Care Centre.

MFT is the largest single provider of these type of services across Greater Manchester and the council originally entered into a contract in 2016, in partnership with Stockport and Trafford councils.

A report presented to the board states that these services have a ‘positive effect on health inequalities’.

“Poor sexual health and lack of access to contraception contributes to inequalities, with more deprived populations experiencing worse sexual health,” it adds.

The service provides testing for sexually transmitted diseases, as well as contraception, and advice over issues such as ‘sexting’.