Partner Notification: Why Getting It Right Matters More Than Ever

Reflections on BASHH’s New Implementation Toolkit

When someone is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the next step is just as vital as the diagnosis itself: partner notification.

It’s the process of letting past and current sexual partners know that they might have been exposed to an infection — and encouraging them to get tested and treated if needed. It’s one of the most effective ways to break the chain of transmission, yet it’s often one of the hardest to do well.

Many of us in sexual health know the reality: conversations about partner notification can feel awkward, rushed, or emotionally charged. People worry about blame, stigma, or how their partners might react. Services, meanwhile, face practical barriers — from lack of time and digital tools to inconsistent messaging.

That’s why BASHH’s new Partner Notification Implementation Toolkit is such a timely resource.

Changing the Conversation Around Partner Notification

Developed by the LUSTRUM2 research team and co-produced with sexual health professionals, young people, and communities most affected by STIs, the toolkit provides an evidence-based, step-by-step approach to help services make partner notification more engaging, supportive, and effective.

At its heart, the toolkit is built around three short films — designed to help people understand why partner notification matters, what their options are, and how to access testing easily and confidentially. But the real value lies in how it helps services embed partner notification as a conversation, not a checkbox.

Rather than asking people to “tell their partners” and hoping for the best, the toolkit encourages clinicians and services to:

• Empower patients with resources that make partner notification less daunting.

• Provide practical options — like anonymous text services, shareable film links, or direct clinic referrals.

• Normalise testing as part of routine sexual wellbeing, not as a punishment or judgement.

This approach shifts the tone from fear to care — from “you need to tell them” to “we can help you look after them.”

Why Partner Notification Needs a Rethink

Partner notification has always been a cornerstone of STI prevention, but it’s never been static. As relationships, dating norms, and technology evolve, so must our methods.

Traditional approaches often rely on face-to-face conversations that may not fit with the realities of online dating or casual encounters. Many services still use paper slips or approaches that can feel outdated or emotionally heavy.

The new toolkit acknowledges this changing landscape. It recognises that:

• People meet partners through apps and social media, not always knowing full names or contact details.

• Shame and stigma still deter people from disclosing or seeking care.

• Staff need easy, adaptable tools that fit into busy clinics.

By offering films, scripts, example SMS templates, and guidance for online integration, the toolkit gives services a ready-made pathway to modernise partner notification — blending empathy with practicality.

A Co-Produced Approach That Reflects Real Lives

One of the most powerful aspects of the toolkit is its co-production. The films and messages were developed alongside young people and those from Black Caribbean communities, who remain disproportionately affected by STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

That matters, because cultural relevance builds trust. People are more likely to respond to messages and media that reflect their voices and lived experiences. The toolkit moves beyond a one-size-fits-all model, giving services a choice of materials that better connect with different audiences.

Making Partner Notification Work Locally

For partner notification to be effective, it must fit the local context. The toolkit recognises that every service operates differently — some have outreach teams and digital testing, others rely on in-clinic appointments and paper notes.

The four-phase structure (Getting Started, Trialling, Going Live, Learning as You Go) allows services to introduce the films and resources gradually, adapting them to local systems, languages, and workflows.

It also provides:

• Example scripts for conversations with patients.

• Text templates for partner messages.

• Printable posters and QR codes for clinic use.

• Evaluation ideas to track what’s working.

For over-stretched sexual health services, it’s a realistic, supportive approach — not another mountain of paperwork.

From Obligation to Opportunity

Ultimately, partner notification isn’t just about compliance or data; it’s about connection. It’s an opportunity to support people’s relationships, improve community health, and reinforce that looking after each other’s wellbeing is something to be proud of.

The BASHH toolkit helps transform partner notification from a potentially awkward moment into a meaningful act of care — for patients, for partners, and for public health.

As one of the toolkit’s core messages reminds us:

“Helping your partner test isn’t about blame — it’s about having each other’s back.”

And that’s exactly the shift sexual health needs. Learn more about and download the toolkit by clicking here