News & Views

The 6th February marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).  This is a day to focus attention on one of the most persistent violations of girls’ and women’s rights. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2012, this day a call to action, investment and accountability across sectors. 

The 2023 abortion statistics paint a clear picture of reproductive health in London and I am struck by both the scale of need and the stark inequalities behind the numbers. London recorded 51,810 abortions in 2023, more than any other region, reflecting not just population size but the deep social and economic pressures shaping reproductive decision making across the city. 

We are delighted to welcome Janet Barter to the London Sexual Health Programme, where she has joined as Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Lead. With more than three decades of experience across women’s health, Janet brings deep clinical expertise, system-wide insight, and a strong commitment to collaboration and equity in sexual and reproductive healthcare.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month.

In the UK alone, more than 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. While it can affect people of all ages, cervical cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers, and it could be the very first cancer to be eliminated globally.

When public money and people’s health are at stake, procurement must be more than a box-ticking exercise — it has to be rigorous, transparent and focused on outcomes. Sandra Milburn, procurement lead for the Sexual Health London (SHL) e-service re-procurement, led exactly that kind of process. Here she explains how the team built a fair, robust competition that prioritises value for councils, and most importantly, service quality for the people who use the service.

Dating apps could play a bigger role than just helping people find matches. New research commissioned by the London Sexual Health Programme reveals that almost six in ten young people would be more likely to use a dating app if it offered trusted advice and support around sexual health and relationships. The findings highlight a clear opportunity for app developers to play a bigger role in promoting wellbeing and healthy communication among young app users. 

The London Sexual Health Programme was delighted to celebrate the launch of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) at the House of Commons, alongside the unveiling of two ground breaking reports on post-pregnancy contraception (PPC).

For the first time, an HIV prevention injection will be offered on the NHS in London, marking an important milestone in the UK’s ambition to end new HIV cases by 2030.

It’s the time of year for pumpkin spice lattes and the release of new HIV data, providing us with an opportunity to reflect on our progress, to celebrate what’s worked and to acknowledge the areas in which we need to do better. This year’s figures for London are striking we have cause for optimism but as the nature of the challenge evolves so must our approach.

I have worked in Sexual and Reproductive Health in London as a Consultant since 1994 and for many years have raised the same concern: we do not talk enough about contraception. Abortion rates in London remain high and are rising, yet opportunities to promote and improve access to contraception are often missed.

Sexual Health Testing Week takes place from 15th – 21st September this year, coinciding with the start of the new academic year and Freshers Week at many universities across the UK. It’s the perfect moment to highlight how quick, easy and important it is to test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

I’ve always been drawn to innovation, especially in digital health. Throughout my career, I’ve pushed to modernise services, which is why I got involved with the London Sexual Health Programme..