The new General Medical Services (GMS) contract and the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV in England

Abstract

In summary, the new GMS contract provides a number of opportunities to further implement the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV, and a mechanism through which PCOs could secure the provision of Level 1 sexual health services in all general practices. This presents the best opportunity to date to redesign sexual health services around the needs of the patient and improve the range and quality of sexual health services available in general practice. This will require multidisciplinary working, strong commitment from PCOs to support practices in delivering at least all Level 1 services, and a prioritisation of resources for Level 2 and 3 sexual health services, as recommended in the commissioning toolkit.