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 …
Government response. 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 …
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 …
Government response. 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.
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 …
Government response. 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 …
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 …
Government response. 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 …
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 …
Government response. 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 …
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. 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.
Government Equalities Office