Issue - meetings

Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, sought Cabinet approval to continue to commission the Specialist Sexual Health Service via a Section 76 agreement with NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board from 1April 2024, in order to secure the delivery of the Council’s statutory responsibilities for sexual health. Utilising the current arrangement, this will be under Section 76 agreement.

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to:

1)    Transfer monies to NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (the ICB) under a Section 76 Agreement (pursuant to s.76 of the National Health Service Act 2006, as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012), in order for the ICB to commission the delivery of the Specialist Sexual Health Service. The proposed funding arrangement shall continue for an initial period of 7 years and include an option to extend for a further period of not more than two years (1st April 2024 to 31st March 2033).

2)    Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the arrangement for a further period of not more than 2 years, on the expiry of the initial 7 year term.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, sought Cabinet approval to continue to commission the Specialist Sexual Health Service via a Section 76 agreement with NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board from 1April 2024, in order to secure the delivery of the Council’s statutory responsibilities for sexual health. Utilising the current arrangement, this will be under Section 76 agreement.

Gloucestershire County Council is responsible for making arrangements for the provision of a Specialist Sexual Health Service as part of the Council’s statutory responsibilities for the commissioning of open access sexual health services for the people of Gloucestershire.

Currently, the Council transfers funds for the commissioning of the Specialist Sexual Health Service to the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) under a Section 76 Agreement. The ICB then commission the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the service.

Gloucestershire Health and Care deliver a number of the wider sexual and reproductive health services for the county, from the one location, ensuring a joined-up care pathway for patients and a more effective use of public funds. Consistently high scores from patient surveys demonstrated a high level of satisfaction with the level of care provided.

Cllr Hawthorne informed members that the commissioning of the current service was due to end on 31 March 2024. Seeking approval to continue with the current arrangement for a further 7 years, with the option to extend for an additional 2 years, Cllr Hawthorne confirmed that the funding for the service would be met annually from within the ring-fenced Public Health Grant. He explained that the contract between the ICB and the GHC would be reviewed annually, which provided the flexibility to review the service model, should the budget envelope or service requirements change.

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to:

1)    Transfer monies to NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (the ICB) under a Section 76 Agreement (pursuant to s.76 of the National Health Service Act 2006, as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012), in order for the ICB to commission the delivery of the Specialist Sexual Health Service. The proposed funding arrangement shall continue for an initial period of 7 years and include an option to extend for a further period of not more than two years (1st April 2024 to 31st March 2033).

2)    Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the arrangement for a further period of not more than 2 years, on the expiry of the initial 7 year term.