Almost every local authority area in England and Wales has seen a rise in the number of gonorrhea cases, figures show, as sexual health services face an “unprecedented increase in demand”.
Gonorrhea has seen an increase in diagnoses in 97% of council areas since 2017, while 71% have seen a rise in syphilis cases over the same period, according to figures based on analysis of health disparities agency data by the local government. Government Association (LGA).
The biggest increases in gonorrhea cases were seen in Wigan, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Torbay, and for syphilis in Middlesbrough, the Isle of Wight, Darlington, and Redcar and Cleveland.
There has been an increase in the number of chlamydia diagnoses in 36% of municipal areas.
The LGA has said the increase in diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was partly due to more testing, but also due to government cuts to sexual health services. The high diagnosis rates may also indicate a high number of infections among people who have not been tested.
David Fothergill, chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing council, said the data shows “local sexual health services are struggling with an unprecedented increase in demand”.
He added: “Councils have been working hard to encourage more people to access sexual health care and get tested more regularly to help improve detection rates and detect infections early.
“Investments in sexual health help prevent long-term illness and unwanted pregnancies, reducing pressure on our NHS and improving the health of people in our communities.”
In 2022, the number of syphilis cases in England rose to 8,700, the highest figure since 1948.
The rate of gonorrhea diagnoses in England had risen from 80.6 per 100,000 people in 2017 to 146.1 per 100,000 people in 2022.
In 2022, 2.2 million STD tests were administered, an increase of 13.4% compared to the previous year, it said UK Health Safety Agency.
An LGA analysis also found that the public health grant received by councils had been reduced by £880 million in real terms over the past decade, reducing local authorities’ ability to spend on STD testing and treatment.
In response, the LGA has asked the Government to urgently publish the next allocations for public health grants to councils, in order to increase funding for these services.
On Wednesday, the parliamentary Women and Equality Committee will hold an evidence session on the rise of STDs among people aged 15 to 24.
Providing evidence will be Prof. Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, along with the Children’s Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, and Dr. Claire Dewsnap, the president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (Bashh).
Dewsnap said: “Bashh has repeatedly emphasized that without sufficient investment, sexual health service users will face serious challenges in their ability to access expert, timely care. Furthermore, the impact of procurement processes has contributed to a lack of stability in the sexual health sector and a depletion of training, further compromising the quality and accessibility of services.
“These data demonstrate not only the deeply worrying trajectory of STD infection growth, but also the need for a robust national strategy, supported by adequate funding. As the demand for care increases, without immediate action we are jeopardizing our ability to protect our nation’s sexual health.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “This year we have allocated more than £3.5 billion to local authorities in England to fund public health care, including sexual health, and this funding will continue in each of the coming increase for three years.
“We continue to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency, local authorities and NHS England to manage pressure on sexual reproductive healthcare and improve access to routine services.”