The Officer Key Decision meeting on Wednesday 5 August 2026 is scheduled to consider a proposal to extend a contract for GP public health services. This includes services such as NHS Health Checks, sexual health services, and HIV screening.

Permission to Activate Two-Year Contract Extension for GP Public Health Services

The meeting is set to consider a proposal to extend the current contract for GP Public Health Services, provided by the Newham Health Collaborative (NHC), for an additional two years. This extension would run from 1 October 2026 and would have a maximum annual value of £850,000, totalling £1,700,000 over the two-year period.

The report pack indicates that this decision is recommended due to the NHC's track record in delivering excellent results for statutory NHS Health Checks, which are a prescribed function. The contract also covers sexual health services and substance misuse support, which are intended to improve resident access, manage demand on specialist clinics, and deliver financial efficiencies for the council.

GPs are described as trusted local providers who reflect the diverse population of Newham and are well-placed to deliver these services, particularly those with a 'Call/Recall' model where onward referral into a managed clinical pathway is crucial. While performance is generally strong, the report notes that some development is required in terms of consistency of geographic provision and uptake of NHS Health Checks among men and residents of 'White Other' ethnicity.

The report highlights that the prevention of long-term conditions such as Type-2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease remains a public health priority in Newham, and NHS Health Checks are identified as an effective tool for early detection. The current three-year contract with NHC, which began on 20 July 2023, has an option to extend for a further two years.

The services provided under the contract include NHS Health Checks (NHSHCs), Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services such as Chlamydia Screening and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), HIV Screening for new patients, and the GP Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) or 'Shared Care' service.

The NHC is the pan-Newham GP Federation, established in 2016 and wholly owned by its 42 GP practice members. The contract operates on an activity-based tariff model, with payments linked to delivery and performance. The report states that the NHC has consistently met or exceeded annual uptake targets for NHSHCs, with Newham frequently being the top-performing Local Authority in England for the proportion of eligible patients receiving a check.

The report also details annual performance trends for LARC and Chlamydia Screening, noting an increase in activity year-on-year under the current contract following a decline during the pandemic. Trends in HIV screening tests and positive cases identified are also presented, showing that GPs have delivered over 11,500 HIV screening tests and identified 14 new cases since April 2023. The Shared Care Service consistently supports approximately 40 individuals receiving opioid substitution therapy.

An area for development identified is the consistency of delivery across Newham's four localities. Appendix 4 provides a breakdown of service provision by locality, indicating variations in LARC and HIV screening. The report outlines plans to address these discrepancies, including collaboration with specific community groups to encourage greater uptake of NHS Health Checks and HIV screening.

The report recommends activating the contract extension as there is no genuine competition in the market for these services. It also states that delivering simple sexual health services via primary care is more cost-effective than equivalent services provided via a specialist clinic. The extension is seen to align with the council's Community Wealth Building agenda, as GPs are trusted providers and typically locally owned businesses.

The decision-maker for this proposal is Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Adults (DASS), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care. The report is scheduled for consideration on 05 August 2026.