Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Paragraph: 28
Concerning acceleration of STI rates, with record high gonorrhoea and syphilis cases.
Conclusion
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.
Government response summary AI-generated
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.
Paragraph Reference:
28
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 7 May 2025. No passage in that response could be matched to this conclusion. Read the response document ↗