Sub-contracting of online STI testing by NHS community healthcare trusts and similar organisations
Dear Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust,
Contracts for remote or online sexual health testing
We are researching the use of online sexual health testing services. These services allow citizens concerned that they may have a sexually transmitted infection to order a test kit to be sent to their home, and then to either self-test at home, or return a sample to the laboratory, receive a result usually via email or text message, and to obtain medicines and further advice if required.
Please answer the following questions in relation to online sexual health services.
1a. Does the authority have a contract to provide sexual health services? If Yes, list which local authorities or other clients it currently has a contract with.
b. Does the authority sub-contract online sexual health testing services as part of any of the contracts in your response to 1a.
2. In each of the financial periods 2021-22, 2022-23, April 2023 to December 2023
a. How much did the authority spend on online testing services
b. How many citizens were tested using online services
3. How much was spent (by the authority or predecessor organisations) in each period with each of the following providers for online sexual health services
a. Preventx
b. SH 24
c. TDL or their NHS joint venture, Health Service Laboratories
d. Viapath
e. Synlab or their joint venture, Synnovis
f. Lloyd’s pharmacy
g. NHS Trusts/ their laboratory services
h. Other. Please name any provider where the spend in any year exceeded £100,000
4. When did the authority last issue a tender for these services
5. When does the current contract expire
Yours faithfully,
Richard Brown
Thank you for contacting the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust Freedom of
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Dear Richard
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry, our reference FOI/2024/2173.
We will respond by 11 March 2024.
Kind regards
Jeanette
Jeanette Pearce
Administration Information Governance
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Howard Court | 14 Tewin Road| Welwyn Garden City | AL7 1BW
Work mobile: 07392 317652 E-mail: [Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust request email]
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Dear Richard,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry, our reference FOI/2024/2173
The Trust’s response is as follows:
The requested information is not applicable to Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust as a community healthcare provider. The service, procedure or treatment you have requested information in relation to is not one conducted by the Trust.
Please note that the information provided remains the property of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust and is therefore subject to Intellectual Property and Database Rights. In view of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations, should you wish to re-use this information for commercial reasons, you are advised to obtain permission from us. Agreement to use the information for commercial reasons may incur a fee as the information is issued under licence. If you have any questions about the process, please do not hesitate to contact the Information Governance team in the first instance.
If you require further information please contact the Information Governance team.
If you are dissatisfied with this response or wish to appeal, please write to:
Associate Director of Integrated Business Services
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Unit 1A Howard Court
14 Tewin Road
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL7 1BW
If you still remain dissatisfied with our response, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner whose contact details are available together with further information about the Freedom of Information process at http://www.ico.org.uk/
Kind regards,
Martin Vitty MSc MBCS
Head of Information Governance & Data Protection Officer
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Howard Court
14 Tewin Road
Welwyn Garden City
AL7 1BW
Tel: 01707 364349
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