Cuts to Sexual Health Services & Private Testing See STD Levels Soar

Financing sexual health awareness campaigns has nose-dived while the levels of the chronic diseases are skyrocketing, a renowned group cautioned. The King’s Fund disclosed that allocations on public health budgets has dwindled by more than £80m  annually adding that with sexual health, essential services such as comprehensive, private STD testing, are among those hardest hit as they are seeing the sharpest financial cuts.The scholar said the reductions, at a time when syphilis prevalence is at the highest in 70 years, were “ill advised”. Public health experts have complained arguing that the “reckless” to endeavor to Institute such savings, which were probable to fuel a complex bill for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STDs).

More Money Needed For Public Health Services

Councils have been allocated enough funding to spend on public health services. Ironically, they have preferred spending more cash on some services such as those involving children. In doing so, they have reduced the funds used on some services like controlling sexually transmitted diseases through private STD testing.

The finding found unraveled that planned spending on sexual health services has dropped steeply by £64 million, or 10 per cent in the previous four years, and is set to continue the plummeting, by £30 million, or five per cent during this financial year.

Amenities to wrestle drug misuse will see a cut of £22m, while those to help curb smoking will see a £16m cut this year.

David Buck, a senior fellow in public health and inequalities at the King’s Fund, stated that shrinking spending on public health is outrageous. “Nonetheless, during a time when the prevalence of syphilis is at its peak level for 70 years, to sink expenditure on sexual health services is the deceitful to economies and is stocking up complications for the future.” said Buck,

Websites aiding people discover local sexual partners have also been put to blame for the acute rise in unprotected sex.

An Increase In Syphilis Diagnoses

Most recent figures from Public Health England indicate 5,920 syphilis diagnosed cases in 2016 the highest degree since 1949 and a proximate doubling up from 3,001 cases in 2012.

Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, Shirley Cramer, observed that services were going through “disturbing” cuts.

“NHS itself called for a ‘radical upgrade in prevention and public health’ to salvage the service from the downfall. It is irresponsible to be doing the exact reverse,” she added.

The Department of Health spokesperson disclosed that they have a strong history on public health cancer survival and dementia diagnoses are at a record above while smoking and teen pregnancies are at presently low.

“Over the existing spending phase, we will inject over £16 billion in local government public health services. We have revealed that we are eager to take tough action to defend the public’s health thus announcing standardized packaging of cigarettes, a Soft Drinks Industry Levy and a world foremost childhood obesity management strategy,” said the spokesman.

With a surge in syphilis rates, it’s imperative for the government to allocate the necessary resources to essential public health initiatives and programmes, such as private STD testing and other sexual health-related services. To learn more about STD testing and how you can prevent the spread of STDs, contact us today.

Contributor: admin