HCRG Care Group and SH:24 partner to expand digital access

HCRG Care Group has formalised its partnership with SH:24 to expand digital access to community health services across the UK.

SH:24, which provides free online sexual and reproductive health services in partnership with the NHS, already supports HCRG Care Group’s sexual health clinics. The two organisations said the agreement would allow them to accelerate the development of digital front door services, giving patients the option to access care from home.

As part of the new arrangement, SH:24 will continue to operate as before but will gain additional support to invest in new and improved services. HCRG Care Group said the collaboration would also allow it to apply SH:24’s digital expertise to wider community services for both adults and children.

HCRG Care Group delivers community healthcare services nationwide and runs programmes including community cooking lessons and volunteer time for local charities. SH:24 has focused on removing barriers to sexual and reproductive health through free, discreet digital services and has extended its model internationally. Both organisations said tackling health inequalities would remain a central priority.

Patrick Birchall, chief executive of HCRG Care Group, said: ‘SH:24 is a trusted innovator in digital health, and by joining together we can give more people easier access to the care they need, while continuing to invest in services that make a difference in communities across the UK.’

Chris Howroyd, chief executive of SH:24, said: ‘SH:24’s mission has always been to improve access to high quality sexual health services. Over the last decade, we’ve used a human-centred approach to transform provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare in the UK and beyond, giving millions of people better access to testing, treatment and clinical support. Joining HCRG Care Group gives us the platform to scale that impact even further, accelerating our ambitious plans for continued innovation.’