This website is being developed to bring all information about Lancashire Sexual Health in one place. The website is designed with service providers in mind who work within sexual health and for services who do not do sexual health as their primary business. The site aims to provide information to anyone who in their working day requires information on sexual health. This could be an enquiry from service users of your services or a quick reference if you need to refer somebody from your service to a sexual health service.
Training and news items appear on the website as well as general background information on different aspects of sexual health.
Cumbria and Lancashire Sexual Health - Looking Forward Workshop 27th January 2011 book online at www.clph.net (this is a new date from the event postponed on 14th October 2010).
If there is anything missing from the site or a question that you cannot find the answer to email CLPHNetwork@centrallancashire.nhs.uk
This site also supports the work of Lancashire County Council partners and Young people's services. Lots of services provide some level of sexual health and this website supports that work whether you just provide information, or condoms or more specialised services.
As from April 2009 Cumbria will be developing its own Public Health and Sexual Health Networks. However it has been agreed that we will continue to share the CLASH website to provide a sexual health communication and information route.
In 1986 the World Health Organisation (WHO) presented for discussion a definition for sexual health:
"A state of physical, emotional, mental and social well being related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.
For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled."
In keeping with the above WHO definition the CLASH website focuses on positive sexual health for all. It acknowledges that sex and sexuality do not exist within a vacuum but within relationships and social structures, and it seeks to promote and improve sexual health in a holistic way.
CLASH embraces a whole systems multidisciplinary approach to the planning of interventions to promote positive sexual health.
Local areas (PCTs) can access Sexual Health Balanced Scorecards which highlight how PCTs are doing compared to other PCTs and England against National Indicators. A full presentation on the use of the scorcards is available here.