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For the NHS

A nationwide testing partner for NHS sexual health services.

From overflow capacity and instant point-of-care tests to specialist screening and 24/7 clinical support, Better2Know works in partnership with your team, with the clinical governance and reporting standards an NHS-aligned service requires.

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NHS Shared Business Services Framework Agreement Supplier SBS10255 supplier ISO 9001:2015 since 2012 Carbon neutral since 2022 Cyber Essentials UKCA / CE marked test kits 350+ UK clinics 24/7 patient services Award winning service Clinically led Established 2008
As the world's leading private provider of sexual health testing, Better2Know supports NHS Trusts and local authorities across the UK with comprehensive, fully managed online screening services, helping meet increasing demand while improving accessibility and efficiency for the people who depend on you. The same infrastructure is ready to extend across broader NHS home sample collection programmes as needs evolve.
On the NHS framework

An approved supplier on the NHS Online Sexual Health Services Framework.

Many NHS Trust managers and ICB commissioners are not yet aware that this framework exists. It is the cleanest, fastest and most procurement-compliant way for the NHS and local authorities to engage Better2Know, and we are an approved supplier on it.

Approved supplier Online Sexual Health Services Framework Lot 1 · SBS10255 · Active 2025 to 2029

Framework at a glance

  • Reference
    SBS10255 · NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS)
  • Active
    29 October 2025 to 28 October 2029
  • Eligible buyers
    NHS England, Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, local authorities and combined authorities
  • Lot
    Lot 1 · STI testing and treatment
  • Procurement
    Provider Selection Regime compliant. Customers may engage suppliers via direct award or further competition.
  • Access
    Customer Framework Agreement Portal at one.sbs.nhs.uk

Why this framework helps you

  • Enhanced access. Removes geographical and stigma-related barriers so service users can access STI and BBV testing from home.
  • Service efficiency. Reduces pressure on face-to-face clinics, allowing NHS resource to focus on complex, vulnerable and symptomatic presentations.
  • Privacy by design. Discreet packaging on every kit delivery protects service-user privacy at home.
  • Community-based care. Supports the NHS's continued shift from hospital settings to community delivery, in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.
  • Population-level data value. Generates service improvement insights through broader population reach and richer reporting.
  • Aligned with national policy. Supports the government's HIV Action Plan for England (2025 to 2030) and the broader shift to digital sexual health delivery.

Benefits as published by NHS Shared Business Services.

Why now

NHS commissioners and clinicians are doing extraordinary work in a challenging climate.

Sexually transmitted infections are at record highs. Public health budgets are stretched. Demand for sexual health services keeps growing. Through it all, NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and local authority public health teams have continued to deliver. Better2Know's role is to support that work: an additional, on-the-ground service that you control, layered into your existing pathways to help you reach more people, faster.

Better2Know flexes to match the brief. Whether your Trust needs an extension of existing services or a fully managed online screening service in its entirety, we can absorb peaks in demand, extend opening hours, accelerate "test and treat" cycles, and reach service users wherever additional support makes a difference.

2.4M+
Sexual health screens delivered across England in 2023, the highest figure since records began.
UKHSA STI surveillance data, 2024
3x
Increase in ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases in early 2025, tripling year-on-year.
UKHSA, 2025
£880M
Real-terms cut to the public health grant between 2015 and 2024, with sexual health among the worst-affected service lines.
Local Government Association
How we support you

An extension of your team, working inside your pathways.

Your existing services do excellent work for many of the people they reach. We are here to extend that work: adding capacity, instant point-of-care testing, and 24/7 cover so your teams can serve more service users without compromising on the standards of care they already deliver.

Physical reach where digital alone can't go

350+ clinics nationwide plus our nurse-to-you "Everywhere" service. For service users who don't or can't engage online: digitally excluded groups, language barriers, sex workers, complex symptomatic presentations.

Instant point-of-care testing

Seven STIs returned in around 20 minutes at selected clinics. Supports rapid "test and treat" pathways for transmission interruption, with service users walking out with results in hand.

Wider test menu for complex presentations

Including Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma, Gardnerella, herpes (HSV-1/2) and HPV genotyping, alongside core NAAT testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, plus full BBV serology.

Surge and outbreak capacity

Pre-negotiated standby capacity for activation during demand spikes (mpox, syphilis surges, antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea, blood-borne virus inquiries). Clinical, logistics and digital teams that can mobilise in days, not months.

24/7 sexual health adviser line

Out-of-hours clinical support for service users in distress, takes pressure off NHS staff, and provides safety-netting for postal kit users outside trust working hours.

Co-pay and hybrid pathways

Established private-pay channel that takes pressure off LA-funded services for low-risk asymptomatic cohorts who'd otherwise queue for free. Public funding stays focused on complex and vulnerable patients.

Service models

Four ways NHS partners typically engage us.

Pick one, mix two, or weave several into a single agreement. We shape the model to your commissioning priorities, governance posture and budget envelope.

Capacity overflow

An agreed volume of clinic capacity for NHS-referred patients

You hold the relationship and the safeguarding; we provide the appointment slots, kits and laboratory throughput. Useful for trusts and ICBs managing waiting-list pressure on open-access GUM services.

Block-funded or call-off Trust or ICB commissioned Local Clinic governance
Surge / outbreak

Pre-negotiated standby capacity for demand spikes

An on-call agreement that activates within days of an outbreak (mpox, BBV inquiry surge, syphilis cluster, antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea). Modelled annually, paid only on activation.

Standby retainer + per-test Outbreak ready Activation in 5 working days
Hybrid pathway

Better2Know provides the symptomatic, complex or instant tier

Sits alongside an existing digital remote testing programme. Asymptomatic users go through the postal route; symptomatic, complex, instant-result and walk-in users come to us.

Per-appointment Clinically led triage Integrates with existing digital programmes
Co-located clinic

Better2Know nurse capacity in trust premises

For trusts that need to extend opening hours, run targeted outreach (sex workers, MSM, students), or pilot a service before full commissioning. We provide the nurse, the kit and the lab pathway; you provide the room.

Sessional or daily rate Clinically led staff Same-day to same-week mobilisation
Reporting and insight

Help your team build a strategic picture and manage population-level health outcomes.

We know that data is what turns a testing service into evidence. Commissioners and public health teams use Better2Know reporting to understand what is happening locally, target investment proportionately, and demonstrate impact to the people they answer to.

Get ready-made reports with insight into testing behaviour, geographic and demographic breakdowns, financials, and repeat-patient data. Or set up custom reports configured to your specific commissioning questions.

The data is yours to use in whichever way matters most: evidencing that services are reaching the populations they were designed for, sharpening targeting, managing budgets, and addressing health inequalities.

Reports include

  • Testing behaviour: volumes, positivity rates, repeat testing patterns
  • Geographic breakdowns: by ICB, LA, ward or postcode area
  • Demographic breakdowns: age, gender, ethnicity, deprivation decile
  • Financial breakdowns: cost per test, cost per diagnosis, cost per case found in never-tested cohorts
  • Flexible report builds to match your commissioning questions and KPIs
  • Custom reports configured to your commissioning questions
Clinical and data governance

The credibility floor commissioners need to see.

The marks below are what an NHS information governance team or procurement officer will check before any conversation moves forward. Items currently in progress are clearly labelled.

ISO 9001:2015

In place

Quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2015 since 2012. Annual surveillance audits maintain the certification.

Cyber Essentials

In place

Certified to the NCSC Cyber Essentials scheme, demonstrating baseline information-security controls aligned with NHS hosting requirements.

Cert 532a1e1d-5708-4a32-9e09-76ff4da3d0c0

UKCA / CE marked test kits

In place

All testing kits are UKCA or CE marked and supplied with regulator-compliant instructions for use.

Carbon neutral

In place

Operations certified carbon neutral since 2022. Supports NHS Net Zero and PSR social-value criteria.

Clinically led

In place

Medical director and consultant clinical leadership. Pathways, triage and treatment protocols are owned by clinicians, not by marketing or operations.

Award winning service

In place

Multiple sector awards across healthcare innovation, growth and clinical excellence. Full award history shared on request.

Data insights

In place

Real-time reporting and analytics for commissioners and public health teams covering testing behaviour, demographics, geography and outcomes.

Flexible reporting

In place

Bespoke reports configured to match your commissioning questions and KPIs. Scheduled exports, ad-hoc requests and dashboard views all supported.

UK data residency & GDPR

In place

All UK service-user data hosted in the UK. ICO-registered. GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 compliant. Caldicott Guardian and Data Protection Officer named on contract.

Safeguarding

In place

Published safeguarding policy with a named safeguarding lead. Under-18 pathway with NHS clinical team escalation routes.

Fully accredited and regulated

In place

Operations regulated to UK clinical standards. Full accreditation register, MHRA notifications where applicable, and clinical governance documents supplied as part of due diligence.

Data Security and Protection Toolkit

In place

DSPT submission completed to the required standard. Information-governance assurance pack available to your IG team on request.

Test menu

What we offer under the SBS framework.

Every service listed below is available to NHS and local authority buyers under SBS10255 Lot 1. Self-collect indicates services that ship as a postal kit for the service user to sample at home.

Service Sample type Self-collect
Postal kit tests (self-collect)
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Urine (M / F) ✓
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Vaginal swab (F) ✓
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Rectal swab (M / F) ✓
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Throat swab (M / F) ✓
HIV and Syphilis (combined) Blood (M / F) ✓
HIV Blood (M / F) ✓
Syphilis Blood (M / F) ✓
Hepatitis B sAg Blood (M / F) ✓
Hepatitis C Ab Blood (M / F) ✓
Hepatitis B immunity Blood (M / F) ✓
Herpes I / II IgG Blood (M / F) ✓
Extended STI panel (7 STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mycoplasma genitalium, herpes, trichomonas, gardnerella vaginalis, ureaplasma) Urine (M / F) ✓
Extended STI panel (7 STIs) Vaginal swab (F) ✓
High vaginal swab for HPV Vaginal swab (F) ✓
Mpox (monkeypox) Per clinical pathway ✓
Instant test kits (results in minutes, all equipment and instructions included)
Instant Chlamydia (10 minutes) Vaginal or penile swab ✓
Instant Gonorrhoea (10 minutes) Vaginal or penile swab ✓
Instant HIV 1/2 p24 antigen (20 minutes) Finger-stick blood ✓
Instant Syphilis IgG / IgM (5 minutes) Finger-stick blood ✓
Instant Hepatitis B HBsAg (15 minutes) Finger-stick blood ✓
Instant Hepatitis C Ab (10 minutes) Finger-stick blood ✓
Instant Herpes I IgG / IgM (15 minutes) Finger-stick blood ✓
Instant Herpes II IgG / IgM (15 minutes) Finger-stick blood ✓
Wrap-around services
Digital contact tracing (per patient) Online workflow ✓
Patient queries: email, telephone and webchat Flat fee per patient ✓

Maximum pricing is published under SBS10255 and can be discounted further. Bespoke panels and additional markers are available on request.

Scale and footprint

The on-the-ground capacity behind every partnership.

350+
UK clinics in our partner network, plus our nurse-to-you "Everywhere" service
18yr
In operation. Established 2008
24/7
Sexual health adviser and clinical helpline cover, 365 days a year
6
Continents of operation: UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, Canada
Case studies

How NHS partners use us in practice.

Real partnerships, anonymised where contracts require it. Quoted figures are representative; signed-off attributions available under NDA.

A Better2Know clinician taking a blood sample from a patient at a clinic
Public sector · NHS
Frontline
COVID-19 testing for NHS ambulance staff during the pandemic

Supporting frontline healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic

The challenge

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an NHS ambulance service operating across the West Midlands needed COVID-19 testing products and services for frontline emergency staff. The service required a fast, reliable provider to help protect patients, maintain workforce availability and support essential operations during a period of exceptional pressure.

The solution

Building on its nationwide network of laboratories and clinicians, Better2Know supported large-scale COVID-19 testing with rapid turnaround times and secure reporting. Services were designed to integrate smoothly alongside existing healthcare workflows, with clinical oversight throughout.

The result

The ambulance service was able to manage staff testing efficiently during a critical period, supporting operational resilience and protecting both patients and frontline workers. The partnership stands as a clear example of Better2Know's ability to support public-sector healthcare organisations under pressure, delivering testing at scale during a national emergency.

A Better2Know clinician reviewing results on a tablet with a patient
Surge response · National emergency
Thousands
of travellers tested during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mass testing for travel and transport operators during COVID-19

The challenge

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel organisations including airlines, bus operators and cruise lines needed compliant testing solutions to limit the spread of infection and meet rapidly evolving travel and workplace regulations across multiple jurisdictions.

The solution

Better2Know delivered PCR and rapid antigen COVID-19 tests with Fit-to-Fly certificates, supported by accredited laboratories, fast turnaround times and 24/7 customer support. Services were available through clinics, on-site at travel hubs and via home testing options.

The result

Thousands of travellers were able to meet airline and destination requirements with confidence, supported by clear guidance and reliable testing pathways. The work demonstrates Better2Know's ability to scale rapidly and support large institutional clients during national disruption, a capability directly transferable to NHS surge and outbreak response.

A Better2Know clinician in consultation with a service user
Workforce health · Ireland
All-island
Occupational health testing for a large institutional client

Reliable occupational health testing delivered at scale

The challenge

A large Ireland-based organisation required occupational health testing designed to support employee wellbeing and business continuity. They needed fast, accurate testing delivered with minimal disruption, while ensuring confidentiality and clinical quality across multiple sites.

The solution

Better2Know provided a tailored occupational health testing programme drawing on its established laboratory network and experience delivering health and wellness testing across Ireland. Pathways were designed to be flexible, with clear communication and secure reporting for both employer and employee across multiple locations.

The result

The organisation was able to proactively support employee health, reduce uncertainty around fitness-to-work, and rely on a single provider that could scale services as requirements evolved. The partnership demonstrates Better2Know's ability to adapt clinical-grade testing infrastructure for large institutional use cases, including trust-as-employer staff testing models.

How to engage us

Procurement-literate. Familiar with the route you're using.

We're familiar with the Provider Selection Regime 2024 and the Procurement Act 2023, and we can engage via whichever route suits the commissioning context. Indicative pricing within the first conversation; full proposal within 10 working days of brief.

  • NHS SBS Framework call-off (SBS10255) is the cleanest route. PSR-compliant direct award or further competition under the framework.
  • PSR Direct Award (A, B or C where applicable) for time-critical capacity needs outside the framework.
  • Most Suitable Provider for considered, single-bidder partnerships.
  • Competitive Process for open-market tenders.
  • Sub-contract under existing NHS Trust prime-contractor arrangements.
FAQs

The questions that usually come next.

Procurement, IG and clinical due-diligence answers, written for the people who'll need to read them.

Are you on an NHS framework?

Yes. Better2Know is an approved supplier on the NHS Shared Business Services Online Sexual Health Services Framework (SBS10255), active from 29 October 2025 to 28 October 2029. The framework covers STI testing and treatment, online contraception, and online PrEP and PEP, and is open to NHS England, ICBs, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, local authorities and combined authorities. It is the cleanest, fastest, fully PSR-compliant route to engaging us.

Can NHS-referred patients use Better2Know free at the point of care?

Yes, under contracted models. NHS-referred service users access the relevant service for free; Better2Know invoices the commissioner per appointment, per test or against an agreed block. Self-referred private-pay users continue to pay directly.

How do you integrate with our clinical record system?

Result returns are formatted to your clinical record system's import requirements (Inform Health, Lilie or trust-specific). For ICBs and LAs we deliver real-time dashboards plus periodic structured exports configured to your reporting needs.

What is your DSPT status?

Our Data Security and Protection Toolkit submission is in place to the required standard. An information governance assurance pack is available on request and can be sent to your IG team for review.

Where is service-user data hosted?

All UK service-user data is hosted in the UK with a Cloud Hyperscaler aligned with NHS hosting frameworks. ICO-registered. GDPR / DPA 2018 compliant. Caldicott Guardian and DPO named on contract.

How fast can you stand up a service?

For a co-located clinic or capacity overflow, same week to four weeks depending on scope. For a pre-negotiated surge / outbreak agreement, activation is within five working days of notification. Larger digital integrations are typically 8 to 12 weeks.

How are positives transferred to our clinical team for treatment?

Positives flow to your nominated clinical team within agreed SLAs (typically under 24 hours for high-priority results) via secure NHSmail, structured result return, or your clinical record system, depending on what your team prefers. Service users are not contacted or treated by us without your explicit pathway agreement.

How do you handle safeguarding and under-18s?

Published safeguarding policy with a named safeguarding lead. Under-18 pathway with explicit risk assessment, partner-age questioning aligned with Fraser/Gillick principles, and escalation routes into NHS clinical teams. Antimicrobial stewardship reviewed by our clinical leadership.

Are you registered with MHRA where your software qualifies as a medical device?

Where Better2Know-developed software meets the MHRA threshold for medical-device classification, it is registered. We provide MHRA registration evidence and software classification rationale on contract.

What happens at end of contract?

Standard contract terms include a documented data egress and service handover plan. Service-user data is returned to the commissioner in agreed structured formats and securely deleted from Better2Know systems on confirmation. We treat continuity of care as a contractual obligation, not a commercial risk.

Talk to us

Tell us where the pressure is. We'll tell you how we can help.

A senior member of our partnerships team will read your enquiry and reply personally within one working day. No call-centre, no marketing automation cascade, no hard sell.

  • Reply within one working day from a senior partnerships lead
  • Information governance assurance pack and clinical credentials available under NDA
  • Indicative pricing and mobilisation timeline within the first conversation
  • Full written proposal within 10 working days of brief

Request a partnership conversation

Six fields. About 30 seconds. We do the rest.

We typically respond within one working day. Your details stay with the partnerships team and are not used for marketing automation.

Thank you. We've got it.

A senior member of our partnerships team will be in touch within one working day, from a real email address you can reply to.