President’s Blog – Professor Matt Phillips – May 2025
02 May 2025
(Last updated: 1 May 2025 13:13)
Dear Colleagues,
I hope you are keeping well. It is a lovely time of year with the days getting warmer and longer and all the flowers and trees coming into bloom.
As usual, there’s a lot going on but I think it’s important we collectively recognise there’s a lot going on in addition to all the work our services do every day – the work that supports patients getting access to expert care and achieve better sexual health outcomes.
In April, many of you will have seen the Supreme Court ruling on the interpretation of the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010. We know this ruling has brought concern and uncertainty for many of the people we support, and for members of our community. In response, BASHH issued a statement reaffirming our commitment to inclusive care. This message remains central to who we are as a professional organisation – and I want to thank everyone for their continued efforts to make GUM services a safe space for all.
On a lighter note, last week, many of our BASHH membership gathered in Brighton for the BHIVA Spring Conference, where a major announcement signalled an exciting chapter ahead: BHIVA and BASHH will be joining forces to deliver a Joint Conference in 2026. This collaboration between two leading organisations in sexual health and HIV care marks a pivotal moment. As the landscape evolves and challenges become increasingly complex, this alignment offers an opportunity to showcase integrated thinking and collective action in tackling both current and future barriers in STI and HIV care. We’ll share further details in the coming months, but for now we look forward to working closely with BHIVA to deliver an exciting, ambitious conference next year.
In the not-too-distant future, the BASHH Annual Conference 2025 will be upon us. Taking place in Edinburgh from 9th–11th June, the event continues to reflect BASHH’s leading presence in sexual health research, education, and standards of care. With over 270 abstract submissions received this year, the breadth and depth of work being presented is a testament to the continued progress and impact within our specialty. Early-bird registration rates close today – Friday 2nd May – so if you haven’t already secured your place, now is a great time to do so. Keep an eye on the BASHH website in the coming weeks for further details on the agenda and session highlights. We look forward to welcoming many of you in Edinburgh to share insights, reconnect, and celebrate achievements across our specialty.
In other news, the London Assembly Health Committee has recently published a report, Getting to zero by 2030: HIV in London. This report follows an in-depth investigation into HIV conducted by the Committee, and contains recommendations to improve HIV treatment and prevention. As we all know, for London to meet its 2030 targets, it will have to scale up existing activity so it reaches more people and communities. I encourage you to have a read of the report when you can.
I’d also like to highlight the BASHH and UKHSA 2025 Honorary Joint Training Fellowships – a unique opportunity for physicians in Higher Specialist Training in GUM to collaborate with public health leaders at the UK Health Security Agency. These Fellowships provide hands-on experience in areas such as outbreak response, disease surveillance, and epidemiology, working closely with expert mentors. Applications are now open and must be submitted by 31st May 2025. This is a competitive programme with a limited number of places. I encourage those eligible to consider applying as it’s an invaluable way to deepen your expertise and contribute to vital national work.
As we move further into the year, I also want to encourage everyone to keep an eye out for the wider events on offer from BASHH. From webinars and BASHH Bitesize sessions to regional meetings and masterclasses, there are many ways to engage, learn and stay connected with peers across the UK. Explore our 2025 events calendar via the website and see what sparks your interest.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Edinburgh this June.
Yours,
Matt
Professor Matt Phillips
BASHH President