PLANS are under way for a change in York’s sexual health services. The intention is to recommission the service at a cost of £4.5 million for three years due to existing contracts expiring.

The procurement process is anticipated to take six months with the contract being awarded in March 2015 and the new service in place by July 2015.

City of York Council is now responsible for buying the majority of sexual health services.

The services commissioned within one effective integrated sexual health service include the screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and contraception. It also includes community outreach sexual health service for “most at risk” populations such as sex workers and a support service for people living with HIV.

As part of the procurement process, City of York Council is hosting a “provider engagement marketplace event “on Monday in its West Offices and invites all interested providers to attend to learn more about the expectations of the successful provider. The event is taking place from 10am.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, City of York Council’s Director of Health and Wellbeing, said: “City of York Council has developed a new model for sexual health services in the city which will deliver an ‘Integrated Sexual Health Service’ to provide an effective, high quality, value for money service.”