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NHS

Spotlights:
Sexual Health

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ChatHealth

The first sexual health messaging service launched in 2019 in Lincolnshire. Since then, a further 11 sexual health services have set up safe and secure messaging services in areas including Birmingham, Bradford, Central London, Dorset and several others.

Due to this growth, the number of contacts seeking sexual health advice via ChatHealth has more than doubled – from 4,205 messaging conversations in 2022-23 to 9,330 in 2023-24.

In a poster presentation at the 2023 BASHH annual conference, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust reported a 63% increase in attendances by young people since introducing ChatHealth. Initial contact via messaging was found to help increase engagement with young people prior to attending clinic.

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  • Enabling young people and adults (depending on how commissioned) to text a local sexual health professional.
  • Offering advice and support for a range of sexual health issues including STI testing, safe sex, pregnancy advice, contraception and HIV testing.

 

Impacts between April 2023 and March 2024:

Number of Contacts

9,330

messaging conversations between service users and sexual health practitioners

(2023-24)

Top Reasons for Contact

  • STIs and Genital Symptoms
  • HIV and AIDs (PrEP / PEPSE)
  • Contraception
(2023-24)

Busiest Time for Contact

On Mondays 

between 9:00 – 14:00

(2023-24)

Service User Experience

97%

of service users said their ChatHealth conversation helped them

(2023-24)

Staff User Experience

100%

of sexual health practitioners surveyed said they would recommend the use of ChatHealth to other health professionals.

(2023-24)

Feedback from a Service User:

“Can I just say how handy this text service is! Much easier than waiting for a call back while at work”

(2023-24)

Feedback from a Staff User:

“ChatHealth has been a great way of engaging with people who may otherwise be reluctant to access a service. It has appealed to all ages, not just the young people we usually work with”

(2023-24)

Service Case Study

Poster presentation by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust at the BASHH Annual Conference 2023

(2023-24)

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