Improving Sexual Health in Scotland

"Respect and Responsibility - Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health" was published by the Scottish Executive today. It sets out clear challenges for relevant agencies to deliver better sexual health services across the country.

The strategy also makes clear that individuals have a responsibility for their own health and for the safety of others.
It clearly promotes the values of mature loving relationships, founded on self respect and respect for others.

Health Minister, Andy Kerr said:
"This is an ambitious and wide-ranging plan but it can and will deliver real change. It sets out a long-term programme for achieving our vision for improving sexual health in Scotland.

"We respect the right of faith groups and others to hold on to and promote their religious, moral and spiritual values. But in return we also expect respect for the rights of young people to have knowledge of, and access to, sexual health services so they can make informed choices."

The action plan will deliver:
* a balance between what government should do to help people avoid contracting or spreading sexually transmitted disease or an unintended pregnancy and the individual's responsibility for their own health and the safety of others;
* a strong focus on respect and responsibility as the cornerstones of mature and loving relationships and the guiding principle for our action as government;
* redesigned sexual health services to ensure improved access in all areas of the country;
* £15 million additional funding over three years to deliver these improvements;
* national leadership through the creation of a National Sexual Health Advisory Committee to be chaired by the Minister for Health;
* local leadership: NHS Boards and local authorities must identify strategic leaders for sexual health so that there is better planning for the future;
* continued education to raise awareness of the issues relating to good sexual health.

If you would like to read a copy of the full strategy go to: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent