President's Blog - Dr Cara Saxon - August 2026

13 August 2026 (Last updated: 14 Aug 2026 15:20)

I hope everyone has been able to find a few moments to pause and enjoy the summer over the past few weeks. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some updates and look ahead to what promises to be a busy autumn period.

New Department of Health and Social Care Ministerial Team

There have been several important developments within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over recent weeks. This includes the appointment of Yvette Cooper MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, confirmation of Dame Diana Johnson MP's responsibilities as Minister of State for Public Health and Patient Safety and confirmation of Baroness Merron’s portfolio as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women’s Health and Maternity, which includes responsibility for HIV and sexual health. On behalf of BASHH, I have written to  all three ministers to congratulate them on their appointments, highlight our key priorities for improving sexual health outcomes, and our commitment to work with the government to achieve these. 

These appointments come at an important time for our specialty – with work underway to develop the new Sexual and Reproductive Health Framework for England. One of the roles of the BASHH President that members may not be aware of, is to attend a bimonthly National Stakeholder Meeting for Sexual Health, HIV and Reproductive Health. The meeting is hosted by the DHSC team that work directly with the ministerial team offering us a regular opportunity to highlight both the great work being done by our members but also the current issues or challenges we are facing. As always, BASHH and I will continue to ensure that the voices of our members, and the needs of the patients you support, remain at the heart of these discussions.

GoGoVax Study Findings

Many of you will have seen the recent publication of findings from the GoGoVax study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the 4CMenB vaccine in preventing gonorrhoea within a randomised controlled trial setting and represents an important addition to the growing evidence base in this area.

As highlighted in BASHH's response to the publication, the findings provide valuable new information that will help inform ongoing scientific and clinical discussion around gonorrhoea prevention. Research in this area continues to evolve, and studies such as GoGoVax play an important role in helping us better understand how different prevention approaches may contribute to improving sexual health outcomes.

I was particularly pleased to see strong engagement with our recent BASHH Bitesize session exploring the prevention of meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea. It provided an opportunity for members to ask questions and discuss the findings in the context of wider evidence and clinical practice. I hope members found it as useful and thought-provoking as I did. If you missed the session you can catch up by registering for the event (even after the date has passed) and watching the recording. Thank you again to Professor Helen Marshall, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Adelaide, for contributing to the delivery of this important session.

Sexual Health Awareness Week

Looking ahead, September will bring Sexual Health Week 2026, which this year is focused on the theme, 'Let's Connect'. Running from 14th – 20th September, the campaign will highlight the importance of connection across platonic, romantic and sexual relationships.

The theme resonates particularly strongly with our specialty. Every day, sexual health professionals support people through conversations that can often feel highly personal, sensitive or difficult. Building trust, listening without judgement and helping people access the information and care they need are all fundamental to what we do.

I know many members will be supporting activity during the week, and I look forward to seeing the important role that BASHH and our partners continue to play in raising awareness of sexual health and promoting access to high-quality care.

A BASHH Thank You Letter

A few months back a group of BASHH members got in touch to ask me to write a letter of thanks on behalf of BASHH for one of their long serving colleagues who was about to retire. Their colleague had spent most of their professional career working in their local sexual health service and contributed enormously both locally and nationally to our specialty. I was delighted to oblige and thought their idea was so lovely that I also sought their permission to take the idea and offer it more widely to other BASHH members.  We are in the process of adding a page on the website with more information but in the meantime if you have a retiring or long serving colleague who you would like to acknowledge for their contribution to the specialty please do not hesitate to get in touch with my email below or via admin@bashh.org.

2026 SAS Doctors' Conference

Finally, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the 29th Annual BASHH SAS Doctors' Conference, which will take place in Birmingham on 4th - 5th September. The conference has long been a valued part of the BASHH calendar and offers a fantastic opportunity to learn from colleagues, exchange ideas and stay up to date with the latest developments in our specialty.

This year's programme includes a range of timely and engaging topics, from Complex PrEP to Emerging Infections Relating to STIs. The breadth of the agenda reflects the increasingly diverse challenges facing clinicians, while also showcasing the expertise and innovation that exists across our professional community.

Whether you are attending for the educational sessions or practical workshops, I hope you find the conference both enjoyable and valuable. Events like these are always a reminder of the strength of the BASHH community, and I look forward to hearing about the discussions and insights that emerge over the two days.

As always, my inbox is open: president@bashh.net. Whether you have questions, reflections or ideas, I'd be happy to hear from you.

With warmest wishes,

Cara

Dr Cara Saxon

BASHH President