New integrated sexual health services will be delivered by a single provider for the next six years.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has won the contract, commissioned by Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland councils.
The health trust already provides sexual health services across the county, but, it said, the new look service will be transformed to meet the evolving sexual health needs of the population.
The service will provide a new digital platform that aims to speed up and improve access to services and reduce some of the traditional barriers that people encounter when accessing sexual health clinics.
The primary focus will be on the following five key public health outcomes:
- Detecting chlamydia earlier
- Reducing underage pregnancies
- Reducing new transmissions of HIV and sexually transmitted infections
- Prescribing long-acting contraception
- Diagnosing people living with HIV at an earlier stage
Its Carlisle base will move from Hilltop Heights to the civic centre soon, health bosses said and work is underway to review its other bases due to the increased focus on online services and to make sure the services are located with other community services.
