ADPH and EHSHCG respond to STI stats
Investment in public health is key to improving the health of the UK. Whoever forms the next Government must address this issue as a matter of urgency or we will just continue to see rates rise – it is simply unsustainable.
Alice Wiseman, ADPH Vice President
Together with the English HIV and Sexual Health Commissioners’ Group (EHSHCG), we have called on the next Government to invest an extra £900 million pounds in local public health budgets following the publication of the annual statistics for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for 2023.
Alice Wiseman, ADPH Vice President, said:
“Over the last decade, the Public Health Grant, which pays for local sexual health services, has been subject to cuts of over a quarter on a real-terms per person basis. At the same time, we are seeing demand for sexual health services at an all time high, and rates of STIs increasing.
“Investment in public health is key to improving the health of the UK. Whoever forms the next Government must address this issue as a matter of urgency or we will just continue to see rates rise – it is simply unsustainable.”
James Woolgar, Chair of the EHSHCG, added:
“Front line staff in sexual health clinics do an amazing job at creating an environment where people are able to come forward for advice and treatment. However, without more funding, clinics will be forced to reduce their services.
“Not only will this mean rates of infection will continue to rise, but more and more people will be left untreated, which will have a huge impact on both individuals and local communities.”
ADPH and EHSHCG, have also joined calls from the Local Government Association (LGA) for the next Government to introduce a new long-term sexual health strategy to help prevent and treat infections.