Special Report: Let's talk about sexual health

It may not be apparent to the young person accessing a chlamydia screening programme or picking up condoms from her local clinic, but the way sexual health services are delivered changed in April this year. Local authorities have replaced primary care trusts (PCTs) as the bodies responsible for public health. This includes the commissioning of a raft of services including contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV prevention and sexual health promotion.

Jonathan McShane, lead on sexual health at the Local Government Association, describes the transition as "a long time in the making, but also a bit of a rush". The publication of government guidance on what is expected from sexual health services, A Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England, was delayed no less than seven times over 21 months. It finally saw the light of day in March, only a month before local authorities took the reins.