News & Views

The London Sexual Health Programme is developing a pan-London benchmarking framework to help providers and commissioners better understand the cost, performance and delivery of sexual health services.

Work on the new London HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy continues to progress at pace. The Needs Assessment phase is now underway, holding their first task and finish group meeting and supporting the evidence base that will underpin the strategy and help identify key priorities, opportunities and areas of unmet need across London.

The 2025 STI data from the UK Health Security Agency shows declines across several diagnoses in England. But in London, the story is more complex. Dr Darren Cousins, our GUM & HIV Clinical Lead, looks beyond the headline figures to consider what the data means for sexual health in the capital.

International Day of Action for Women’s Health (28 May) is a chance not only to recognise women’s health as a fundamental human right, but to ask whether our systems are responding in ways that truly reflect that. This year’s theme, Essential, not optional: strengthening health systems, is a powerful reminder that women’s health cannot sit at the margins of policy or practice.

Black Maternal Health Week (11th–17th) takes centre stage as a powerful campaign to raise awareness, champion for equity, and celebrate the voices and leadership of Black women. The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, the organisation behind Black Maternal Health Week, works to advance black maternal health by leading efforts in policy advocacy, conducting research, and fostering strong communities.

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and promoting conversations around consent, safety, and access to care. This year, 7th April serves as a key action day, an opportunity for individuals, communities, and services across London to come together, show support, and take meaningful steps toward change.

The Global Day of Action to destigmatise abortion stands as a necessary and urgent response to entrenched myths, discriminatory policies, and persistent barriers. It is a rallying cry to dismantle harmful narratives and demand safe, stigma-free abortion access everywhere. While anti-abortion rhetoric gains traction globally, this day is a firm declaration: every person deserves autonomy over their body and unhindered access to abortion care.

When Jacqueline John talks about finance, she doesn’t start with spreadsheets. She starts with impact. 

“I’ve been an accountant for over 40 years,” she says, “but what I’ve always enjoyed most is working with service leads and clinicians to help them understand their budgets so they can make the right decisions.” 

This week marks Endometriosis Awareness Week, an opportunity to raise awareness of a condition that affects millions of people but is still widely misunderstood. Endometriosis is a long-term and often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, commonly around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvis. Despite how common it is, many people still struggle to get a diagnosis, treatment, or even to have their symptoms taken seriously.

This month is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a good opportunity for professionals in sexual health, public health and across local government and the NHS to reflect on how we identify, prevent and respond to abuse in young people’s relationships.

On Valentine’s Day we are often overwhelmed with pictures of hearts, roses, and couples’ dinners.  Great if you’re in a good healthy relationship, but irritating or worse if you’re not.  Not everyone enjoys the celebration, not everyone gets a card. For many, it can be a day that highlights singleness or even loneliness. And there is nothing wrong with that.  But whether you’re in a relationship, dating casually, or happily single, Valentine’s Day is a powerful reminder to show yourself some love.

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is fundamental to our overall health, wellbeing and autonomy. Yet access to high quality, respectful and timely SRH services is not experienced equally by everyone. On Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day, it’s vital that we shine a light not only on the importance of SRH, but on the inequalities that continue to shape people’s experiences – and what we can do to address them.