Network Information

About the Network
  • Mission Statement
    "The aim of the Greater Manchester Sexual Health Network is to facilitate – by collaboration with all stakeholders – a greater profile and presence for all prevention, treatment and care services by improving clinical outcomes, patient experience and equality of access to all sexual health services."
  • Purpose of Network
    The Greater Manchester Sexual Health Network is the UK’s first comprehensive Sexual Health Network and includes amongst others HIV, genito-urinary medicine, family planning, contraception, conception, teenage pregnancy and abortion services provided by the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. The Network has been acknowledged and recognised nationally as best practice as evidenced in the recommended standards for sexual health services, DH (2005).

The primary purpose of Greater Manchester Sexual Health Network is to facilitate – by collaboration with all stakeholders – a greater profile of and presence for all prevention, treatment and care services by improving clinical outcomes, patient experience and equality of access to all Sexual Health Services.

The Network serves a population of 2.5 million, including 10 PCTs, 10 Acute Trust and 10 Local Councils. It is funded by the Primary Care Trusts in Greater Manchester.

The Network was established to support the implementation of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV.

By encouraging the active involvement and participation of all key stakeholders, the Network will:-

Strategy and delivery
  • Develop, in accordance with national policies and guidance, a long-term strategy for sexual health services across Greater Manchester – ensuring it is compatible with individual sector plans
  • Introduce structures and mechanisms that will ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to providing sexual health
  • Deliver high quality, equitable sexual health services that are designed to improve the health and well-being of the population
  • Establish a system to oversee collective commissioning and service development arrangements for sexual health services across the nation

Clinical governance, quality assurance

  • Develop and implement systems to monitor services and ensure they are appropriate and founded on current evidence-based practice – and are clinically safe

Workforce development and education

  • Evolve a dynamic, innovative and creative culture that embraces the views and expert knowledge of service users, carers and support organisations
  • Create an environment of continuous service improvement through active research, training, teaching, learning and education, workforce development and the dissemination of good practice

Multi-agency working

  • Attract and secure national investment for sexual health services in Greater Manchester
  • Work with our local partners, influencing their service delivery plans and performance priorities' frameworks
Good Health Model

Our Vision

Over the last year, members of all the Network's sector groups took part in 'visioning sessions' to identify actions that will improve sexual health services throughout Greater Manchester.

The sessions established what was good about current sexual health services in the area, what needed to be improved, what could be developed and what should be stopped altogether. It was agreed that the focus of our work would be "the patient" – and that patients and service improvements should be at the forefront of all decisions.

It was also agreed that while it is important to see the long-term goal, it is also vital to achieve ‘quick wins’ and instigate some rapid changes in order to sustain the Network.

Key Performance Aims

The Networks key performance aims are:-

  • To achieve 48-hour access to GUM Services by 2008 in all PCTs
  • To bring the under 18 conception rate reduction on trajectory to meet 2010 PSA target
  • To reduce STI rates including HIV, which is best measured by the LDP line proxy of gonorrhoea rates, by the end of planning period (2008)
  • To achieve Chlamydia screening in 25% of the high-risk 16-24 year old population by 2010 with full national roll out of programme by March 2007
  • To promote safer sex, in the context of improving the knowledge and understanding amongst 16 to 24 year olds, through the delivery of a national marketing campaign
  • To improve reproductive health and, in particular, contraceptive service provision both in terms of accessibility and quality of service, which in turn will help improve the quality of service for abortions

Terms of Reference

  • In accordance with National Policies, Guidance and Strategy develop a shared vision and long standing strategy for Sexual Health Services across the Network, ensuring compatibility between the network wide and individual sector plans.
  • Ensure that appropriate mechanisms and structures are implemented to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to the provision of Sexual Health Services that encourages the active involvement and participation of all key stakeholders.
  • Ensure that the strategy is based on the philosophy of providing high quality, equitable services designed to improve the health and well being of the population.
  • The Board will advise and make recommendations to The Association of Greater Manchester Primary Care Trusts regarding commissioning and performance management of Sexual Health Services. In undertaking this role the Board will ensure structures are in place to coordinate the commissioning of these services.
  • Ensure that appropriate mechanisms are developed and implemented which will support the monitoring of service provision and provide robust assurance that services are appropriate, based on current evidence based practice and clinically safe.
  • Development of a culture within the Network that is dynamic, innovative and creative and which seeks to embrace the views and expert knowledge of service users, carers and support organisations.
  • Engender a culture of continuous improvement in service provision through active research, training, teaching, learning and education, workforce development and the dissemination of good practice.
  • To attract and secure funding from national investment streams and ensure mechanisms are in place to influence local delivery plans and performance and priorities frameworks.
Coordination of the Network

The Network has a Board made up of key stakeholders from PCTs, Acute Trusts, Local Authority, NHS North West, HPA, Voluntary Sector and local Universities. It is accountable to the Association of Greater Manchester PCT Chief Executives and chaired by the lead PCT Chief Executive. It reports six monthly to the PCT Chief Executives, Directors of Finance and Commissioning, Directors of Public Health and Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).

The Board is supported by a GM SH Commissioning Leads Group and Performance & Delivery Group (chaired by Lead Chief Executive). GM is split in to 3 sectors (NW, NE and C&S) for communication purposes. Each PCT area has a Local Implementation Group. The Board has identified 9 key work streams to meet national targets. These include amongst others, modernisation, IT, workforce, prevention, HIV, engagement and involvement. The Network agreed a strategic vision for future services in 2005 and all task groups operate with clear terms of reference and action plans.

The Board, Performance & Delivery Group and Commissioners meet bi-monthly with the Priority Action Groups (task groups) meeting 4-6 weekly

Structure

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Key achievements
  • Since early 2004 GUM clinics have seen 25% more patients with greater access to services in the evening and at weekends
  • New patient to follow-up ratio through modernisation of practice is down from 1:2 (2004) to 1:04 (2008)
  • DNAs have reduced from 32% (2004) to 10% (2008)
  • Greater Manchester has met the target of 100% of patients offered an appointment in GUM within 48 hours. Moved from less than 20% in 2004 to 100% in 2008. Seen % has moved from 18% (2004) to 89% (2008)
  • Clinicians are seeing more appropriate patients (better use of skill mix)
  • Securing and delivering a £2m Greater Manchester wide roll out of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme over 10 PCT areas. GM has performed the highest number of screens completed in first two years
  • Now have 11 out of 12 GUM clinics on same IT system. All 12 now on an IT system. Contraceptive services following similar model and hope to have all services on IT system by March 2008
  • Centralised booking for abortion services established in 2006 – one number for Greater Manchester offering a clear pathway and choice of statutory or private sector providers including specification and standards. Access to abortion under 10 weeks has gone from 45% (2004) to 70% (2008)
  • Sector booking from GUM across 4 Acute sites
  • Clinical pathways agreed for development of Tier 2 services and services for young people

Greater Manchester has secured a significant amount of further investment for modernisation and development of sexual health services through the Network

  • £3.8m Choosing Health 2006/07 onwards
  • £2.0m Chlamydia Screening Programme 2006/07
  • £180k Development Pilot (Central and Salford)
  • £344k Nucleic Amplification Testing for all laboratories to move to new PCR test
  • £3.3m Capital (includes refurbishments and new build in Manchester)
  • £125K Abortion Bids (6 PCTs)
  • £240k National Support Team Funding

The Network has proven a powerful way of organising services and creating change, enabling barriers to be broken down between care sectors and focusing solutions on patient care pathways rather than organisations.

Sexual Health Network Development
- Key Stage Action Plan

Stage 1 - Setting up the network

Action 1 To convene the Network Steering Group and map potential membership of the Network. November 2003 Network Director
Action 2 To clarify the purpose of the Network and agree the Terms of Reference. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 3 To consider and advise on the range of services to be encompassed by the Network and its geography. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 4 To explore and develop a range of models that might be adopted as a framework for Network. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 5 To consider and advise on the structure and configuration of the Network. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 6 To advise on supporting infrastructure requirements and resources. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 7 To produce a consultation document on the proposals developed. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 8 To establish Network Leadership, Governance, Accountability and Performance Management arrangements. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 9 To undertake the consultation and develop the preferred option. December 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 10
To present recommendations to the local NHS and voluntary sector community ensuring an effective communication strategy. Quarterly newsletter. January 2004 Network steering group
Edition 1 – What are networks, benefits etc. Nov 03
Edition 2 – Summary Consultation Document Feb 04
Edition 3 – Preferred Model and contact details May 04
Edition 4 – Summary Annual Report Sep 04
Action 11 To ensure the effective involvement and support of key stakeholders throughout the process. November 2003 Network Steering Group
Action 12 To ensure appropriate links are established between the Steering Group and Workforce Confederation. November 2003 Network Steering Group

Stage 2 – Direction Setting and Building Consensus

Action 13 To map the current situation, current services and staffing, their pressures and concerns, strengths and weaknesses, existing networks and gaps in service provision. October/November 2003 Network Director/SH Leads
Action 14 To map all the stakeholders and their views, their power and authority, their likely investment in the network, develop sufficient stakeholder support. October/November 2003 Network Director/SH Leads
Action 15 To map current collaborations and connections across the Network area, culture of collaboration, potential leadership styles and approaches. October/November 2003 Network Director/SH Leads
Action 16 First Stakeholder Event. Launch Network Test the model developed so far. Develop activities to reduce barriers to Networking Build consensus on way forward. July 2004 Network Board & Sector Groups
Action 17 To establish the Greater Manchester Sexual Health Network Structure Board and Sector arrangements, ensuring discipline and geographical representation. May 2004 Network Steering Group
Action 18 To develop the Vision and Key Priority Areas to be addressed by Greater Manchester Sexual Health Services with all key stakeholders. July 2004 All Stakeholders
Action 19 To establish the Project Management Working Groups of the Network ensuring appropriate representation and accountability. September 2004 Network Board

Stage 3 – Setting the future Direction of the Network - Refining the Structure and arrangements.

Action 20 To map the current situation, current services and staffing, their pressures and concerns, strengths and weaknesses, existing networks and gaps in service provision. September 2004 Network Director
Action 21 To set the future direction of the Network ensuring Governance, Accountability and Performance Management arrangements are in place with appropriate resources. July 2005 Network Board
Action 22 To establish a Clinical Governance Strategy for the Network. August 2005 Network Board
Action 23 To further develop Communications Strategy and Website. July 2005 Network Admistrator
Action 24 To assist the DoH in establishing National Sexual Health Networks. March 2005 Network Director/Clinical Lead
Action 25 To contribute to National Advisory Group and National Standards feeding into Network. March 2005 Network Director
Action 26 To secure additional income for the Sexual Health Network. March 2005 Network Director
Action 27 To secure additional income for the Sexual Health Network. November 2005 To assist local services in integration and development of services on Local, Sector and Network basis.