Unity Sexual Health rapid STI testing, diagnostic and treatment service evaluation

Sexual health services are facing financial constraints due to reduced local authority budgets. At the same time, there is increased demand for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. In April 2017, Unity Sexual Health successfully bid to provide sexual health services for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Unity re-designed its service to improve access and delivery of care. This includes use of new rapid STI tests, which are as good as Unity’s current laboratory tests, so patients can get results of their tests within 4 hours i.e. on the same day or next day. Currently patients and clinicians may have to wait over a week for results of tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. We are using quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the impact of the new service on service delivery, costs and resources and to examine patients’ and clinic staff views and acceptability of the service.