BASHH/FSRH Standards for Online & Remote Providers of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare Services - Consultation now open

The BASHH/FSRH Standards for online and remote providers of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Services 2018 are now open for public consultation until 17:00 on 2nd October.

These Standards have been developed in response to the rapid expansion of providers of online Sexual Health/Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (SH/SRH) services throughout the UK. FSRH and BASHH support these innovations, but also recognise the need for key assurances in the standard of care and quality of services provided.

The Standards cover five areas, which mirror the lines of enquiry followed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC):

• Safe care.
• Effective care.
• Treating people with kindness, respect and compassion.
• Ensuring provision is responsive.
• Questions of governance and leadership.

Throughout the document, the needs of the staff providing the service and of the users receiving care are given attention, with strong consideration given to the systems and processes that are necessary to ensure high quality care.

The Standards are to be used as a benchmark for all providers of online Sexual Health/Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare services, as a tool for the commissioning of services and as a means of enabling service users to understand what to expect from their provider.

These Standards are available to view on the BASHH website here.

View the consultation here and submit your responses by 17:00 on 2nd October.