Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
1
Conclusion
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Accepted
UK Health Security Agency data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2022 are deeply concerning. For particular STIs they show a return to, and acceleration of, pre-Covid-19 trends of rising rates of new infections. Rates of gonorrhoea, which almost doubled among people aged 15 to 24 years, were the highest …
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UK Health Security Agency data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2022 are deeply concerning. For particular STIs they show a return to, and acceleration of, pre-Covid-19 trends of rising rates of new infections. Rates of gonorrhoea, which almost doubled among people aged 15 to 24 years, were the highest since records began in 1918. Syphilis cases reached a peak not seen since 1948. Both infections carry substantial risks of severe illness for individuals and to public health. The data should be a wake-up call to the Government, local authorities, sexual health services, reproductive health professionals and others in the NHS, and those delivering Relationships, Sex and Health Education in schools.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, highlighting a £198 million increase to the Public Health Grant in 2025/26, the 2023 publication of the Integrated Sexual Health Service Specification, and the 2024 publication of the STI Prioritisation Framework to support local authorities.
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Government Equalities Office
3
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Accepted
The Government must radically increase the public health grant to local authorities to a level that allows sexual health services to operate effectively and meet local need. This must include the provision of face-to-face consultations to those who need them, within 48 hours, and universal access to free postal STI …
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The Government must radically increase the public health grant to local authorities to a level that allows sexual health services to operate effectively and meet local need. This must include the provision of face-to-face consultations to those who need them, within 48 hours, and universal access to free postal STI testing. Booking appointments and access to online testing should be made available via smartphone app.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, committing to aim for multi-year Public Health Grant allocations from 2026/27, detailing a £198 million increase to the grant for 2025/26, and developing a new HIV Action Plan aiming for publication in 2025.
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Government Equalities Office
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Accepted
The provision of sexual health services is fragmented across the health system and can be complex to navigate. The Government should work with providers and commissioners to improve collaboration across reproductive and sexual healthcare to ensure effective cross-system support for young people and other groups at greatest risk of contracting …
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The provision of sexual health services is fragmented across the health system and can be complex to navigate. The Government should work with providers and commissioners to improve collaboration across reproductive and sexual healthcare to ensure effective cross-system support for young people and other groups at greatest risk of contracting an STI. These measures should be underpinned by a wider national strategy on sexual health. (Paragraph 36) The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in young people and other high risk groups 29
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and is undertaking work on condom usage as part of the new HIV Action Plan. They have extended the 'Get Ready for a Hot Summer' campaign until March 2026 with £1.5 million funding to raise awareness and distribute 20,000 condom …
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Government Equalities Office
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Accepted
Condomless sex is a key risk factor for STI acquisition, and changes in condom use have been widely reported. The Government must increase its promotion of the benefits of condom use, using a tailored approach to those groups at greatest risk of STI infection. There are innovative approaches being used …
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Condomless sex is a key risk factor for STI acquisition, and changes in condom use have been widely reported. The Government must increase its promotion of the benefits of condom use, using a tailored approach to those groups at greatest risk of STI infection. There are innovative approaches being used to promote uptake in condom use such as the inclusion of condoms with STI testing kits. The Government should review the effectiveness of these schemes and consider the merits of supporting their rollout nationally.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, highlighting ongoing work for a new HIV Action Plan and the continued 'Get Ready for a Hot Summer' campaign, extended to March 2026 with £1.5m funding. This campaign includes distributing 20,000 tailored condom packs to high-risk populations.
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Government Equalities Office
9
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Accepted
The Government should make funding available for public awareness campaigns focused on STI prevention among young people and other groups at high risk of infection in areas with the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and where rates of diagnosis are rising fastest. The campaigns should be co-designed by those …
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The Government should make funding available for public awareness campaigns focused on STI prevention among young people and other groups at high risk of infection in areas with the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and where rates of diagnosis are rising fastest. The campaigns should be co-designed by those communities, should normalise discussion of sexual behaviour and be promoted in the online spaces where young people are currently turning to for advice.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, highlighting local authority responsibility but also its own support through national campaigns. It notes a £1.5m extension for the HPE campaign until 2025/26, targeting high-risk groups, and is developing a new HIV Action Plan for 2025 which will explore awareness …
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Government Equalities Office
15
Recommendation
Fifth Report - The prevalence of sexual…
Accepted
In light of the increases in chlamydia diagnoses, the Government should review whether the shift in focus of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme to restricting the offer of opportunistic screening to young women has been effective.
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating that UKHSA is monitoring the reproductive harms of untreated chlamydia to assess the effectiveness of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, although insufficient time has passed for a full evaluation of the recent policy change.
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Government Equalities Office