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Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet has given the green light to extend the city’s sexual and reproductive health service, known as Axess, for an additional three years. This continuation will see the service, managed by Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT), operating until October 2029. Alongside the extension, the Cabinet has approved new preventative initiatives aimed at lowering rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), preventing HIV, and enhancing tuberculosis (TB) testing throughout Liverpool. These measures align with the city’s role as a Fast-Track City+, committed to ending new HIV infections, reducing stigma, and improving access to prevention, testing, and treatment services.
This approval comes after a comprehensive review which demonstrated that Axess is delivering excellent outcomes for Liverpool’s population while providing good value for money. Since launching in 2021, Axess has quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top-performing sexual health services. Liverpool now boasts the highest STI testing rate within the Northwest and among England’s core cities. Residents benefit from accessible support via clinics, walk-in appointments, and online testing options, enhancing the overall reach of the service.
The evaluation highlighted several key successes of the Axess service. Chlamydia diagnosis rates surpass national targets, reaching 2,719 per 100,000 against a goal of 2,400. There has been a significant drop in late HIV diagnoses over the past three years, falling from 57.1% to 36.1%. Access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) has hit its highest level since 2018. The service guarantees that everyone with urgent sexual health needs is seen or assessed within 48 hours, with more than 90% of STI test results returned within eight days. Furthermore, over 12,000 outreach contacts have been made with populations most at risk, and thousands of condoms have been distributed to young people and other vulnerable groups.
The partnership between Axess and Liverpool City Council has received recognition for its transformation and positive outcomes, earning an award in 2022 and being featured at national and international conferences in 2025 and 2026. The Cabinet has also approved a contract variation that will allow the service to introduce new offerings such as injectable HIV prevention treatment (PrEP), doxyPEP to prevent certain STIs, and expanded TB testing through targeted outreach. Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, expressed strong support for the service, emphasizing its impact on improving sexual health access and outcomes across Liverpool. Likewise, Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, praised Axess for its quality care and its role in advancing the city’s Fast-Track Cities+ commitments through cutting-edge prevention measures. The contract extension, effective from November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2029, ensures the continuation of these vital services, contributing to the council’s broader goals of enhancing health outcomes, reducing inequalities, and preventing ill health across Liverpool
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