Letter From SSHA President & Autumn 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to our Autumn SSHA Newsletter! We had lots of positive comments about our new-look Spring edition and hope you find this one just as interesting and thought-provoking.
Welcome to our Autumn SSHA Newsletter! We had lots of positive comments about our new-look Spring edition and hope you find this one just as interesting and thought-provoking.
Sexual Health Advisers (SHAs) are at the heart of modern sexual health services, providing vital support to patients, communities, and multidisciplinary teams. Yet across the UK, the way these roles are structured, utilised, and commissioned varies significantly. A proposed national scoping exercise aims to change that by building a clearer picture of current workforce models and identifying opportunities to strengthen the profession for the future.
On Wednesday 29th August, we had the inaugural National on line meeting of SHAs We advertised the meeting through SSHA and BASHH although membership of either was not necessary. We had an amazing turnout – 60 SHAs attended from all over the UK – it was wonderful to have a gathering of “our people”!
SSHA is thrilled that The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) has made a formal statement of support for the role of the Sexual Health Adviser. We are very appreciative of the support that SSHA has from BASHH and the very close relationship that SSHA and BASHH have within Sexual Health and HIV services.
In Sexual Health Advising, so much of our work is supporting people through a sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis and helping them reduce their risk of acquiring another. Over time, I’ve realised that the most meaningful change doesn’t come from tests or treatments – the real impact often comes from the conversations we have.
The landscape of HIV care and partner notification (PN) continues to evolve, but at its core, it remains a profoundly human endeavour.
Working as a Sexual Health Adviser in a GUM/HIV service has shown me that sexual wellbeing is about far more than preventing and treating sexually transmitted infections or providing contraception.
New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that diagnoses of genital herpes in England are increasing, despite an overall decline in sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Sexual Health Mar 22, 2026 10 min read Hasan Mirza: PrEP & Sexual Health Pharmacist, Ambrose King Centre, Royal London
Sexual Health Mar 22, 2026 6 min read Award Winning, BASHH endorsed, Co-Produced Films to Strengthen Partner Notification and STI