GP anger over slur on quality of sexual health services

GPs have reacted angrily to a report from a Government advisory group that has condemned their ability to provide sexual health services.

The report, published this week by the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV called for increased testing for HIV and STIs in primary care, as part of a raft of 27 recommendations to reduce rates of infection.

The report said: ‘Sexual health often remains a low priority for GPs.

‘Most GPs are not trained to treat sexual health holistically, and many do not engage in sexual health issues. For example, while they will take blood pressure when prescribing the contraceptive pill they are less likely to take a full sexual history.'

Baroness Joyce Gould, who is chair of the group, told Pulse: ‘Some GPs do take a full sexual history and offer tests for STIs and HIV when people consult on sexual health or contraceptive matters, but there are many who do not.'

Baroness Gould insisted the report was not meant to be overly critical of GPs but said it was designed to highlight a ‘parity of services between regions to avoid a postcode lottery in sexual health services'.

‘Standards of commissioning are very variable across the country.

‘We're giving a warning now, to avoid potential inequalities in services in the future.'

But Dr Clare Gerada, a GP in south London and vice-chair of the RCGP, said: ‘It's absolutely outrageous to say we're rubbish at sexual health. I don't know any other doctor who would take a fuller sexual history than we do outside of a GUM clinic.'

Dr Richard Ma, a GP in London and member of the RCGP sex, drugs and HIV working group, said: ‘Of course GPs are interested in sexual health and of course they could be doing more – but when you look at what's happened to Choosing Health money it's obviously not a priority of PCTs.'