Sexual Health and Bloodborne Virus Oversight Committee minutes: January 2025

Attendees and apologies

Chair

• Jenni Minto MSP - Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health (Chair)

Attendees

• Alan Eagleson - Terrence Higgins Trust
• Andrew McAuley – Scottish Health Protection Network (SHPN) Blood Borne Virus (Non-Sexual Transmission) Group Co-chair

• Anna Glasier – Women’s Health Champion, Scottish Government
• Becky Metcalfe - SHPN Clinical Leads for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Co-chair
• Ciara Cunningham – SHPN Clinical Leads for SRH Co-chair

• Daniel Clutterbuck - SHPN HIV Clinical Leads / HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Implementation (TEDI) Group Co-chair
• Daniel Kleinberg - Deputy Director, Population Health Resilience and Protection, Scottish Government
• Daniela Brawley - SHPN HIV Clinical Leads Co-chair
• Duncan Mccormick – PHS / SHPN Viral Hepatitis Strategic Group Co-chair

• Gill Hawkins – Senior Medical Officer, Scottish Government
• Grant Sugden – SHPN Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (SHBBV) Coordination Network Co-chair Waverley Care

• Julie Craik - SHPN SHBBV Coordination Network Co-chair
• Kirstin Mitchell - SHPN National Monitoring Assurance and Research Group (NMARG) Co-chair

• Kirsty Roy – Public Health Scotland (PHS)
• Lorraine Fleming – PHS
• Nicky Coia – SHPN Sexual Health Promotion Specialists Co-chair
• Rebekah Carton - SHBBV Team Leader, Population Health Resilience and Protection, Scottish Government

• Sharon Hutchinson - SHPN NMARG Co-chair
• Sinead Cook – Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
• Stephen Barclay - SHPN Viral Hepatitis Strategic Group Co-chair
• Yvonne Kerr - SHPN Sexual Health Promotion Specialists Group Co-chair

Apologies

• Nicola Steedman – Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government

Observers

• Paul Athansopoulos – Public Health Registrar, Scottish Government

Secretariat

• SHBBV Policy Team, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcome, introductions and apologies

The Minister welcomed attendees to the second meeting of the Committee. Due to time constraints, members were invited to introduce themselves when speaking. Apologies were noted as above. The Minister also welcomed Duncan McCormick, Lorraine Fleming and Wendy Mitchell who have joined the group.

The secretariat noted that the outstanding actions from the previous meeting were now closed. The group were content with the Terms of Reference and the minutes from the previous meeting, which will be published on gov.scot.

Key issues from workstreams

Longer Acting Reversible Contraception

Anna Glasier presented information on the current rates of Longer Action Reversible Contraception (LARC) and some of the ongoing work in relation to accessibility.

The group discussed hormone hesitancy as an area of concern and the impact that misinformation that is shared online is having on young women. The group also discussed the importance of understanding what ‘good’ looks like for women when making decisions around contraception and shared some of the existing research that might feed into conversations.

Young people and sexual health

Nicky Coia presented an overview of current sexual health issues for young people. The presentation focused on both online and in person behaviours and presented data alongside these. The Minister reflected on the importance of highlighting these issues. The group considered the potential value of a summit to discuss these issues in depth including a cross section of relevant stakeholders and discussed the key areas that are important in influencing this work, including third sector and public. The group discussed the importance of more evidence on online activity.

Actions:

• Slide deck to be shared with relevant Scottish Government teams.
• SHBBV colleagues to engage with Nicky Coia to give consideration for the development of a young people’s summit.

Reaching the hepatitis C elimination target

Duncan McCormick presented updates on progress towards the goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health concern in Scotland by March 2025, focusing on key settings including drug services and prisons. It was noted that a strengthened programme management approach could be helpful in supporting work to reach the target. The group highlighted the success of local initiatives in hepatitis C testing and discussed variations in testing uptake between different areas and settings. The Minister noted the importance of consistency and the need to learn from prisons that are doing well and disseminating best practice. She noted that this would be raised with the relevant policy teams.

Action:

• SHBBV policy team to link with colleagues in prison healthcare on models of prisoner testing.

HIV Transmission Elimination Plan updates

Lorraine Fleming presented an update on work in relation to the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan, focusing on the short and medium term actions. It was noted that positive steps are being taken, including a HIV Champions event and the recent funding awarded to Waverley Care to deliver a Workforce Education and Engagement project.

Any Other Business (AOB)

No AOB raised.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 20 May 2025.