Islington Council has approved City of London's London Sexual Health Programme (LSHP) to manage the commissioning and awarding of the pan-London sexual health e-service. The initiative aims to improve Islington residents' access to essential sexual health resources, addressing the borough's high levels of need compared to national and regional averages.
According to the report Procurement strategy report for pan-London sexual health e-services, data from 2024 shows Islington has the seventh highest rate in England of STIs per 100,000 population (2,051 compared with an average rate in London of 1,182 and in England of 482). This is linked to the young age profile, high levels of deprivation and a large gay and bisexual male population within the borough. Rates in Islington are similar to other inner London areas.
The Executive approved Islington Council's participation in the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) for the service for the contract's duration at a meeting on Thursday 25 September 2025.
The e-service offers residents online assessments, home testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), clinical results, and remote treatment for uncomplicated bacterial infections like chlamydia and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). The current service is run by PreventX, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and Lloyds pharmacy under the brand Sexual Health London (SHL).
Clinical guidelines recommend regular STI testing for at-risk individuals to protect their health and reduce transmission. The e-service is intended to complement in-person clinics and provide a cost-effective way to meet the high demand for routine STI testing in Islington.
The new contract will be awarded for nine years, including an initial five-year period and two optional two-year extensions. Islington Council also participates in the E-service Management Board (ESMB), which provides governance to the SHL contract.
The estimated value for Islington for the core service is £8,286,570 over the contract's lifetime. Additional optional service elements include digital Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), routine and emergency contraception, and condom distribution. If Islington opts into these additional services, the estimated cost is £2,098,423.
The council will also contribute £187,284 to cover the City of London's management of the e-service contract and wider governance of the London Sexual Health Programme. The total investment for Islington over nine years is estimated to be between £8,473,854 and £10,572,277, depending on the additional service modules included.
Islington faces high levels of sexual health need, with recent data showing high diagnosis rates in syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia compared to national and regional averages. The e-service aims to address these needs by providing convenient and discreet access to care.
Analysis by the City of London estimates that £16.573m in costs could be avoided in Islington over the next nine years by delivering STI testing through the e-service rather than in sexual health clinics. If Islington also opts into the modules for digital PrEP and contraception, the cost that could be avoided compared with activity in clinic is potentially an additional £2.4m over the nine-year contract period (a total of £18.973m in costs avoided).
The service is available to users over the age of 16, and robust safeguarding procedures are followed through the online consultation process.
Anonymised feedback from 947 Islington residents using the current sexual health e-service between April 2024 and March 2025 showed that 94% (892 residents) rated the service as five (5) stars. 99% (1,165) of users said they would recommend this service to a friend or family member.
The Executive delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Health and Social Care, Councillor Dr Sara Hyde, to enter into the IAA with the City of London.
