Sexwise.org.uk Closing Despite FPA Offering to Run it for Free!
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has sent out the following to clinicians:
“As you may be aware, Sexwise was launched by Public Health England (PHE)…and management of the website was inherited by DHSC in 2021.
“DHSC currently contracts a provider to deliver technical maintenance and support for the website, and this contract will end on 2 March 2024. Following the end of this contract Sexwise will close, and the site will no longer be available.
“We understand that the website has been a valued sexual and reproductive health resource for professionals, and the general public, and that this may be disappointing news.
“We are closing Sexwise due to financial challenges, in part because of the significant resources needed to bring Sexwise completely up to date, and to develop and maintain it for the long term to fully meet required digital and clinical standards.
“There is also extensive sexual and reproductive health information already available from other sources…In addition, DHSC does not routinely provide bespoke for-public websites on other health topics.”
The Family Planning Association Offer to Run Sexwise for Free
FPA developed and launched Sexwise in 2016 on behalf of Public Health England (PHE) precisely because there is a need for a free-to-access national digital sexual and reproductive health resource for both professionals and the public.
Due to a lack of government funding, Sexwise was handed over to PHE in 2019. In the 5 years since the website was passed to PHE and then to DHSC, the basic need for this resource has not gone away.
At the FPA we are deeply disappointed that no resources were allocated in this time to properly maintain either the website or the wider programme of work associated with Sexwise.
Despite the “significant resources” now required to update it, the Family Planning Association has offered to take over the operation of Sexwise free of charge in order to save this valued website.
- Sexwise.org.uk would remain free-to-access for patients and clinicians
- FPA would create up-to-date free-to-access keynote patient information guides on popular methods of contraception
- FPA would create up-to-date free-to-access keynote patient information guides on common STIs
A keynote guide would typically be the equivalent of a 3-to-4-page guide summarising the typical 15-to-20-page FPA patient information guides.
FPA would also ensure Sexwise has other free-to-access information including:
- Where to get free STI tests
- Where to get more free-to-access information online
- Where to get free advice, for example calling the Sexual Health helpline etc.
And…
- There would be no cost to DHSC. FPA would cover the cost of hosting, website management, web design, updates etc.
- DHSC would retain the IP rights to the Sexwise Trademarks and domains
Free Booklets to Support the Healthcare Community?
As part of reinvigorating Sexwise, FPA also offered to give £10,000 of patient information booklets to NHS Trusts / NHS-run GUM clinics – that’s nearly 40,000 detailed sexual health booklets.
FPA disagree with the DHSC statement that there’s “extensive sexual and reproductive health information already available”
Most free-to-access sexual and reproductive health information doesn’t tick all these boxes:
- Up-to-date
- Quickly updated when guidance changes
- Peer reviewed
- Easy-to-read
- Mobile-friendly
- Aimed at all ages with quality, range and depth of information
- All in one place
If this existed, then closing Sexwise wouldn’t be a problem and we wouldn’t be getting complaints from clinicians.
Offer Rejected
The DHSC has rejected our offers to run Sexwise and we do not understand why.
In the unlikely scenario that the FPA was not able maintain its commitment, then the DHSC could just ask for the domain name back and still close the Sexwise website.
Help save Sexwise
We can’t see a downside for patients, clinicians or the DHSC. If you have contacts at DHSC/OHID – please can you ask them to reconsider the FPA offer and save this valuable resource?
Every voice counts – thank you!
