SHL.UK is London’s digital sexual health service. It is the largest publicly funded remote sexual health testing programme anywhere in the world.
A fast, free NHS sexual health service
SHL.UK offers Londoners convenient, fast and free NHS sexual health services including:
- Remote STI testing for people with mild symptoms or no symptoms
- Remote regular and emergency hormonal contraception
- Quick and convenient remote treatment and partner notification for people testing positive for chlamydia
Working together to improve sexual health
SHL.UK is commissioned through the London Sexual Health Programme, a partnership of 30 London local authorities working to increase access to sexual health services.
Preventx provides an innovative and adaptable online platform and dedicated laboratory testing
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides clinical leadership
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor provides contraception and chlamydia treatment
Research
The Sexual Health London team regularly publishes research, and presents at national and international conferences.
Research papers include:
Sexual assault reporting amongst users of online sexual health services – sagepub.com
“This innovative three-way population sexual health partnership demonstrates brilliantly how diverse capabilities, cultures and experiences can be brought together for the public good. An excellent example of a partnership where a new way of working and clinical model can both improve the patient outcome and experience and deliver substantial cost savings to the taxpayer.”
Support during the pandemic
During the Covid-19 pandemic, SHL.UK enabled more people to order tests online.
They made changes including allowing people who needed a test of cure (treatment) to go to SHL.UK rather than return to clinic, as well as opening the service to people reporting with mild symptoms, and developing an online contraception service.