A Greater London clinical commissioning group (CCG) is at loggerheads with local authorities, after its health and wellbeing board made an “indefensible” decided to decommission a sexual health service.
The Hillingdon Health and Wellbeing Board took the decision to decommission the IUCD (intrauterine contraceptive device – also known as the contraceptive coil) service from general practice.
A Greater London clinical commissioning group (CCG) is at loggerheads with local authorities, after its health and wellbeing board made an “indefensible” decided to decommission a sexual health service.
The Hillingdon Health and Wellbeing Board took the decision to decommission the IUCD (intrauterine contraceptive device – also known as the contraceptive coil) service from general practice.
Dr Ian Goodman, the CCG chair, said: “Some parts of our borough have teenage pregnancy rates nearly twice the national average and providing IUCDs is one important way of avoiding unwanted pregnancies.”
The matter was voted on with Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) being the only member to vote against.
There is no clinical or financial justification for the decision, the CCG argued, as the responsibility and funding for this service moved to the Council in April 2012. In addition to this funding, an extra £4 million for public health initiatives was transferred in 2013.
“We are also very concerned that no health impact assessment or equalities impact assessment was carried out prior to this decision being made,” Goodman added.
“Local GPs and I are extremely concerned about what this decision means for patients and we have asked the council to inform local women and GP practices as a matter of urgency where alternative IUCD contraceptive services will be available in future.”
The Health and Wellbeing Board has been contacted for comment.
