Sexual and reproductive health framework planned by DHSC

A timeline for a ‘combined sexual and reproductive health framework’ will be developed, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said, following a series of calls for a national sexual health strategy.

It follows a Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) evidence session on sexual health services which took place in October 2025, after which chair Layla Moran MP, wrote to the government to reiterate the need for a national sexual health strategy.

On 12 December 2025, parliamentary under-secretary of state for public health and prevention, Ashley Dalton MP responded to the letter with concerns that a new strategy may ‘duplicate’ existing work, though she expressed support for developing a new combined framework.

Ms Dalton MP said: ‘We agree it would be helpful to draft a combined sexual and reproductive health framework, pulling together existing initiatives so those with an interest can see all the relevant components in one place.

‘A timeline for compiling this will be shared in due course.’

The HSCC recommended a strategy which included a ‘unified framework for service planning’ that would bring together current approaches to HIV, women’s health and LGBT+ health.

In response, the government said it is ‘committed to improving sexual health for everyone’ and pointed to its strategies already in place or being developed such as the HIV Action Plan 2025 – 2030, the 10 Year Health Plan, the Women’s Health Strategy which is being updated, the Men’s Health Strategy and the LGBT+ Health Evidence Review.

In its letter dated 6 November 2025, the committee noted that an ‘overarching national sexual health strategy’ has not existed since 2019.

It expressed that only with a comprehensive approach can commissioning be unified, responsibilities clarified, and services able to provide equitable access and meet public health needs.

The call for a national strategy was built on from the previous committee and first initiated in 2019.

It was accepted as a recommendation by the government at the time, but no strategy has yet been published.

In December, advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) specialising in sexual health in primary care Ruth Bailey told MPs how general practice nurses (GPNs) are the ‘backbone’ of sexual and reproductive healthcare in England but are being held back by gaps in training, workforce pressures and unequal pay.

A version of this article was first published by our sister title Healthcare Leader