menu

More funding for sexual health services urgently needed

Increases in STI diagnoses show more funding for sexual health services is urgently needed.

NEW STI figures published by Public Health England show there were 447,694 STIs reported in England in 2018.

STI data for England in 2018 show a 5% increase in STI diagnoses since 2017, with an especially worrying increase in gonorrhoea diagnoses of 26% and a 5% increase in syphilis diagnoses.

Key stats include:

  • 249% rise in gonorrhoea from 2009 and 26% from 2017, the highest increase in over 40 years
  • 165% increase in syphilis from 2009 and an increase in 5% from 2017
  • 22% drop in chlamydia testing of young people (15-24years) since 2014
  • Overall STI rates up by 5% on the year before, when there were 422,147 new STI diagnoses
  • Attendance at sexual health services has risen 15% in five years

There is encouraging evidence of the impact of HPV vaccination with a substantial drop in diagnoses of genital warts. But, overall the continuing climb in the incidence of serious STIs, especially affecting younger people, BAME communities and gay and bisexual men, demonstrates the urgent need to continue to improve the reach of sexual health services.

Deborah Gold
Deborah Gold

Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), said: “We have high quality and dedicated sexual health services across the country. But year-on-year cuts to sexual health budgets are pushing these services to breaking point. Services cannot keep up with need or demand and sexual health inequalities are deepening. This shocking 26% increase in gonorrhoea diagnoses must be a wake-up call to Government. Reverse the cuts to public health and increase substantially the funds available to sexual health clinics. That is the only way to get on top of these serious infections.”

Debbie Laycock
Debbie Laycock

Debbie Laycock, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Today’s new STI statistics shows there needs to be urgent action to improve the state of the nation’s sexual health. We are yet again seeing soaring rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea, and increases in the number of people attending sexual health services, which is happening against a back drop of central government stripping £700m from public health budgets in the last five years. The Government cannot bury its head any longer, the consequences of under investment and services struggling to meet demand is plain to see with these STI numbers.

“Progress has sharply halted in tackling rates of chlamydia, with rates up 6% last year. While there continues to be a decline in the number of chlamydia tests being carried out. This is clear evidence that removing access to testing is having a direct impact on the rates of chlamydia with cases now rising.”

The data reveals that certain groups are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections.

Debbie Laycock added: “The impact of continued slashing of sexual health budgets was laid bare in a report by the Health Committee just two days ago. It revealed there is now a real risk to widening health inequalities already faced by certain groups. These groups – including BAME communities, young people, people living with HIV and gay and bisexual men – are once again disproportionally affected by new STI rates. Gay and bisexual men for example accounted for 75% of new syphilis cases.

“A range of sexual health services must be available, including different options for testing and support, but this must not come at the expense of vital face-to-face services.

“We welcome the long overdue decision to include BAME-specific data in today’s report which has revealed large variation in STI diagnoses between ethnic groups-an important step in understanding the sexual health needs and experiences of different communities. However this must be translated into targeted interventions to support people to access sexual health services.

“Going forward, lessons must be learned from sexual health interventions that have seen positive results. The continued fall in new HIV diagnoses has seen the Government commit to ending new transmissions by 2030, while the introduction of the HPV vaccine to girls – which is due to be extended to boys this year – has resulted in rates of genital warts declining. We urgently need that same decisive action to get a grip of other rising STIs.

“That’s why we are calling on the Government to show leadership by urgently committing to an ambitious national sexual health strategy which fast-tracks action to address STIs. Sexual health funding must be increased as part of the forthcoming spending review to ensure services can properly meet local demand.

“Today’s STI statistics combined with the serious warning from MPs , demonstrates very clearly the dire impact on sexual health that decisions being made by central government are having. Ministers need to wake up to this crisis and take decisive action. Their handling of sexual health to date is simply not good enough.”

 

PREVIEW: Cheer Up Mollys release debut EP

Cheer Up Mollys launch debut EP, Mollyfied, at the Brunswick Pub, Hove on June 30.

KNOWN for their feel-good live shows and inventive arrangements of folk, acoustic and Americana music as well as well-known 70s and 80s pop hits, the all-female five-piece have been playing together for three and a half years.

Described as “…joyful to watch and listen to. Their stunning harmonies gave me goose bumps.” by Amy Hill (Brighton Folk, Roots & Acoustic club), the band have played all over Sussex at events such as Paddle Round the Pier, Southdowns Folk Festival and Steyning Festival.

Ukulele player and singer Seffy explains where the EP title comes from. “When we think about songs we’d like to cover, we always talk about how we can ‘Mollyfy’ them to give them our own spin, and then we thought about what ‘mollify’ actually means – to blend – and that kind of fits what we like to do.”

As well as including one of their signature covers – their own arresting take on Eurythmics Here Comes The Rain Again, complete with crowd-pleasing mandolin versus ukulele solo battle, the EP showcases the original songwriting of Deb Shurvell (Sweet Sorrow, What You Mean to Me) and Seffy Sefton-Smith (Thistledown Snow, Sad Heart Happy).

Seffy said: “Our writing styles complement each other and give plenty for the band to get their teeth into. Lots of harmonies, counter-melodies, textures and rhythms. It’s funny, cos I’ll rock up with something jangly and toe-tapping, and Deb will bring something more contemplative and slowly beautiful – it’s a good balance. That said, Thistledown Snow actually came out of a time when I was in a pretty dark place, but it’s a hopeful song about the healing power of nature.” And the moral of the forthcoming accompanying video is “Don’t try and shoot a music video in a field of thistles while wearing sandals…”

You can hear them perform songs from the EP and many more at their Brighton launch gig on June 30. They’ll be joined by fiddle player Linda Game (The Fold, English Contra Dance Band, Kitchen Girls) who also guests on the EP.


Event: The Cheer Up Mollys – EP launch gig

Where: The Brunswick (venue), 1 Holland Road, Hove BN3 1JF

When: Sunday, June 30, 2019, doors 7.30, music 8pm

Time: Doors 7.30, music 8pm

Cost: Tickets £7 in advance or £9 on door.

To book tickets online, click here:

Celebrate Brighton’s LGBT+ volunteers on Thursday, June 6 at Friends Meeting House

Working To Connect (WTC), the organisation that brings together small LGBT+ and HIV groups in Brighton & Hove will celebrate their volunteers during National Volunteer Week from June 1-7 with an event at Friends Meeting House on Thursday, June 6.

Pop along to Friends Meeting House, in Ship Street at 6.30pm on Thursday, June 6, to meet some of the hard working and most dedicated volunteers in the City and learn about the important and life-changing work they do.

At 7pm there will be a short presentation of their work followed by food and refreshments provided by the HIV charity, Lunch Positive with an opportunity to talk with service users and volunteers who meet a wide range of needs and support of our ever-growing and diverse LGBT+ communities.

WTC is formed of many of the City’s smaller LGBT+ voluntary and community organisations, including: BLAGSS, TransPride, Older and Out, Brighton Bothways, Rainbow Families, Peer Action, Trans Can Sport, and many more. Other members – such as The Clare Project, Lunch Positive, Rainbow Chorus have grown but remain a key part of the Network.

Their aims are to:

♦   to support each other to thrive and grow,

♦   to raise awareness of issues,

♦   share information and training and

♦   to voice legitimate concerns that affect the LGBT+ and HIV groups in Brighton and Hove.

The event is open to the public to showcase their work and encourage more people to become involved in volunteering with LGBT+ and HIV organisations.

Everyone is welcome to attend.


Event: Celebrating LGBT+ volunteers in Brighton and Hove

Where: Friends Meeting House, Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AF

When: Thursday, June 6

Time: 6.30pm

Cost: This is a free event. Refreshments provided by Lunch Positive

THEATRE REVIEW: Avenue Q @Theatre Royal

“It’s a Fine, Fine Line between Reality and Pretend.”

THIRTEEN years ago in the West End, and due to the hype, an actor friend and I felt obliged to see the ‘flavour of month’ the award – winning musical Avenue Q.

We were knocked out by this outrageously irreverent but hilarious show and, tonight at the Theatre Royal, the production was as strong as ever totally engaging us with the Jim Henson style puppets that gradually (with the expert puppetry skills and talents of this energetic and youthful cast) draw you in until the puppets seem to take on a life of their own.

The story is simple enough. Naive graduate Princeton comes to New York, penniless but with big dreams and arrives in Avenue Q where his dysfunctional new neighbours help him find his purpose in life.

But, this is Avenue Q and, with neighbours such as Lucy the Slut, Christmas Eve the Japanese therapist with no clients and Trekkie Monster it is no surprise the subjects they tackle include issues such as racism, full-on puppet sex, homosexuality and internet porn.

Catchy tunes which are often offensive and disturbing are hilarious when delivered out of the mouths of fluffy puppets!

Included also, are sincere and moving songs especially when delivered by stand out cast member Cecily Redman. The whole cast are 5 Star performers as is the whole production.

Clear, slick direction from Cressida Carre, simple but bold lighting from Charlie Morgan Jones and the best sound I’ve heard in a while at the Theatre Royal, from Christopher Bogg.

Grab your tickets soon. A 5 Star must see classic.

To book tickets online, click here:

X