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Dept of Health

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to prioritise contraceptive services within strategic health authorities' local delivery plans; [154429] (2) what steps his Department (a) has taken over the last 12 months and (b) plans to take over the next 12 months to prioritise contraceptive services within the NHS; and what impact such measures have had to date; [154430] (3) if he will make a statement on the role of the group of key experts on contraception referred to by the Under-Secretary for State of Health on 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 371WH. [154433] Miss Melanie Johnson: It is a key aim of both the Government's Sexual Health and HIV Strategy and Teenage Pregnancy Strategy to reduce unintended pregnancy rates. Provision of good quality contraceptive services is key in achieving this aim. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) to ensure that comprehensive services are provided and the Department has issued them with guidance on how to commission these services. The Department has also convened a group of key experts, including representatives from the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Family Planning Association, to develop and implement an action plan to support the improvement of contraceptive services at local level. We are working with strategic health authorities to help raise the priority level of sexual health, including contraceptive services, within local delivery plans.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

418 c272-3W;418 c279-80W; 154429;154430;154433

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Contraceptives Health services

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk