England is in the midst of a sexual health crisis because people still find it difficult to talk openly to their children about relationships, sex, and sexual health, says a report from a cross party group of MPs.
More people than ever have a sexually transmitted disease, says the report from the health select committee. Yet sexual health services are seriously underfunded and unable to cope with the numbers of patients seeking help.
Figures show that around one in 10 sexually active young women in England is infected with chlamydia. And between 1996 and 2001 the number of people who were given a diagnosis of gonorrhoea nearly doubled, from just under 12 000 to over 22 000 a year, and the number of syphilis cases rose by 500%. The United Kingdom has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe, and the estimated number of cases of HIV reached an all time high last year.
These statistics show that sexual health services have been a low priority in terms of investment for many years, said David Hinchliffe, chairman of the committee. The committee heard that one sexual health clinic was operating out of a temporary cabin and each week was turning away more than 400 people who might have an infection, because it did not have enough staff.
“The evidence is quite plain—outbreaks of gonorrhoea and syphilis locally and high levels of teenage pregnancy and chlamydia. How much more evidence is needed to convince those who can make changes that the sexual health of the population is deteriorating?” said Dr Helen Lacey, of the Department of Genitourinary Medicine at the North Manchester General Hospital, in written evidence to the committee. “I was able to offer a better sexually transmitted infections service to local people when I took up my post 10 years ago.”
But the facts also show most people still find it hard to talk about sex openly, despite living in an increasingly sexualised society, and rely instead on the “Benny Hill culture” of a nudge and a wink to communicate about sex. These bad habits are then passed on to their children, the report says.
The committee has called for the introduction of a national service framework for sexual health, so that people wait no longer than 48 hours to see a doctor in sexual health. It would also like to see improvements to the many dilapidated buildings that house sexual health clinics.
The committee also recommends a new screening programme for chlamydia in women that uses a new test, not the notoriously inaccurate one that is currently used in clinics.
Sexual Health: Third Report of Session 2002-3 can be accessed at www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/health_committee.cfm or can be ordered from the Stationery Office, tel 0845 702 3473, price £14.50.