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<p>Data collected on sexual health expenditure by local authority as part of the Ministry
of Housing, Communities and Local Government General Fund Revenue Account Outturn
data on Social Care and Public Health service spend show that 94 of the 152 local
authorities spent less on sexual health services in 2017-18 than in 2016-17.</p><p>Returns
from the Sexual and Reproductive Health Activity Dataset (SRHAD) data show that in
2017-18, there was a reduced number of services in 49 local authority areas compared
to 2016-17. Other services may provide contraception but not complete a SRHAD return.
Ongoing reconfiguration of individual sexual and reproductive health services can
vary which means that reduction in number of services need not necessarily equate
to reduction in overall provision. Contraception is also widely available free of
charge through general practice. No assessment has been made on the impact of these
changes.</p><p>The Government has mandated local authorities in England to commission
comprehensive open access sexual health services, including advice on, and reasonable
access to, a broad range of contraceptive substances and appliances. It is for local
authorities to assess and understand local needs, including assessing the impact locally
of reductions due to service reconfiguration, and determine how funding is spent to
deliver services that meet those needs.</p>
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