The UK’s sexual health is in crisis and should be made a government health priority according to a report published by the House of Common’s Health Select Committee.
The cross-party committee of MPs highlighted huge increases in rates of sexually transmitted and infections over the past six years, with new cases of gonorrhoea increasing by 87%, chlamydia by 108%, and syphilis by 486%. HIV infections have increased by an annual average of 10% over the same period, with a 30% hike in new infections in 2001.
Sexual health clinics are understaffed, say the MPs and need a 90% increase in specialist consultant posts. Because of this staffing short-fall they are failing to meet the target of providing an appointment within 48 hours, with six week waiting times in some parts of the country. In addition, clinics are often located in dilapidated or inadequate accommodation.
Teaching of sex education in schools was also heavily criticised by MPs as too biological. Writing in the Guardian Professor Michael Adler of the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London condemned sex education in schools as “too patchy, too biological, too little, too late.”
Serious, chronic underfunding of sexual health services was also criticised by MP’s, who suggested that the government should commit at least £22 million a year in order to provide services to the 1.1 million people using sexual health services every year.
Although the government launched a national HIV and sexual health strategy in 2001, this has been undermined by the failure to make sexual health a national health priority and by inadequate resourcing of sexual health services by Primary Care Trusts, which were created in the last round of health service reforms in 2002.
Evidence was presented to MPs by sexual health clinical staff and health promotion workers in hearings in late 2002/early 2003. The report can be read in pdf format by clicking here.
Further information on this website
UK’s sexual health continues to worsen - news story August 2002