Nurses needed in sexual health

A government-commissioned report into sexual health services has called for more nurse-led care.

The evaluation of one-stop shop models of sexual health provision, published by the Department of Health last week, concluded that access to services was inadequate and recommended more nurse-delivered care. 'Nurses are not necessarily utilised enough in terms of providing an integrated service,' it stated. But it noted that such provision depended on better specialist training. 'More nurses should be trained to manage whole episodes of care, including prescribing/supplying treatment for sexually-transmitted infections and contraceptive methods.'

RCN sexual health adviser Kathy French said more nurse-led services had been delivered since the research was undertaken but agreed training access remained a challenge. 'Funding has been a big, big issue,' she said.