Published: 24 February 2026
Following a review, Public Health Wales has identified some operational issues in our Sexual Health Test and Post Service. These include:
As soon as we became aware of these issues in November and December 2025, we took immediate steps to resolve them. We undertook a risk assessment to ensure the service was safe to continue. We also changed our internal safeguarding processes for people who contact our Sexual Health Test and Post Service to ensure that the correct safeguarding processes and procedures are followed.
We are in the process of reviewing cases of people who contacted our Sexual Health Test and Post Service and who may have not been safeguarded appropriately. Where needed, we are directing these cases to the relevant local authority for the appropriate management and support. We are also conducting a thorough review of our test-and-post sexual health service to improve processes, quality and assurance. This includes reviewing our online platform. We have implemented a new online process to ensure that young people are appropriately safeguarded when using the platform. Changes to our Sexual Health test and post website are also being made. We are also conducting a lookback exercise to ensure any historical safeguarding information is shared with local authorities.
The data handling concerns we identified were mainly internal administrative issues. There were occasions when test results were sent to the wrong health board, but the sharing of test results and associated personal information remained within the NHS. We have made changes to our data handling procedures to protect against this happening again. We have reported the data incidents to the Information Commissioners' Office.
We also identified a small number of people who received incorrect results and received delayed test results and referrals. Where we identified an incorrect result, we corrected it straight away and informed the person involved. We also offered them the appropriate follow-up care where needed. Where we have identified delayed test results and referrals, we responded promptly to ensure they were sent out as quickly as possible.
Professor Fu-Meng Khaw, National Director of Health Protection and Screening Services and Medical Director at Public Health Wales said “I would like to sincerely apologise to anyone who has been affected by these issues. Please be assured that as soon as these issues were identified, we acted immediately to put things right. Our services remain here for you whether you need a confidential sexual health test sent to your home, access to condoms, or advice on any sexual health concerns – our teams are here to support you. We will be commissioning a full independent external review into these issues. We are committed to learning from this experience and understanding exactly what went wrong, so we can improve the quality of the service.“
Each year our Sexual Health Service processes nearly 100,000 requests for sexual health tests. It is a safe space for individuals receiving advice and testing for sexually transmitted infections and other sexual health issues. Anyone who needs sexual health services should continue to use the service to protect their health.
If you have had a sexual health test and we have not been in contact with you about incorrect or delayed results, you do NOT need to contact us, as all affected service users have already been informed and have received any necessary follow-up advice. For anyone who is still worried, there is a helpline for support: 0800 0352 877. It will be open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on weekends.