Latest STI data prompts calls for investment in services | Nursing Times

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week published its most recent data report on STI consultations and diagnoses in England.

“These trends underscore the need for a well-resourced, expert-led, national sexual health strategy”

Jodie Crossman

UKHSA’s figures showed that there had been an overall 8.8% drop in the number of new STI diagnoses, from 399,947 in 2023 to 364,750 in 2024.

Within this, there was a significant (15.9%) drop in gonorrhoea diagnoses and a 4.3% decrease in the number of first episode genital warts cases.

However, syphilis diagnoses rose by 4.6%, from 12,456 in 2023 to 13,030 in 2024.

There had also been a “concerning acceleration” in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases, UKHSA said.

It noted that there had been 14 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea in the first five months of 2025, which is higher than the 13 reported for the entire of 2024.

Jodie Crossman, clinical nurse specialist and national nurse representative for the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), welcomed the overall decline in STI diagnoses from 2023.

However, she warned that some STIs were still at “historically high” levels.

Speaking to Nursing Times, Ms Crossman also noted how the rise in syphilis diagnoses showed that “not all infections are following the same downward trend”.

“Syphilis often presents with subtle or no symptoms in its early stages, which can lead to delayed testing and onward transmission – particularly among higher-risk groups such as [gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men], and younger adults.”

Looking at the longer term figures, syphilis cases spiked from 5,313 in 2015 to 9,535 in 2024, while gonorrhoea cases increased from 41,290 to 71,802 cases.

Meanwhile, UKHSA’s data found that the number of people attending sexual health consultations fell slightly between 2023 and 2024.

Overall, consultations declined by 2.7%, from 4,630,665 to 4,505,785.

The decrease was driven by a drop in online and telephone consultations, by 5.2% and 28.6% respectively.

Conversely, face-to-face consultations rose by 3.1%.

UKHSA’s data further showed there was a 10.7% fall in the number of chlamydia tests carried out as part of the national chlamydia screening programme, which covers women aged 15-24.

Ms Crossman said the increase in in-person consultations was “possibly reflecting the growing clinical complexity of cases that require physical examinations or treatments not suitable for remote management”.

“While digital services remain valuable, many patients still prefer – or medically require – face-to-face care, especially when trust, safeguarding or diagnostic certainty are crucial,” she said.

The leading nurse appealed for a new sexual health strategy in England.

“These trends underscore the need for a well-resourced, expert-led, national sexual health strategy that ensures equitable, timely access to care and supports the workforce delivering it,” Ms Crossman said.

Local Government Association (LGA) community wellbeing board chair David Fothergill said the figures demonstrated the strain that sexual health services – which are predominantly funded by local councils – were currently under.

The LGA flagged how the 4.5 million consultations that were delivered in 2024 was an increase from 2.9 million in 2013.

“Without adequate investment, people will face growing barriers to accessing expert, timely care,” Mr Fothergill said.

“The government must use next week’s spending review to boost funding for sexual health services in line with this sharp rise in need.

“Investing in sexual health services not only reduces long-term illness and unplanned pregnancies but also eases pressure on the NHS and enhances the wellbeing of our communities.”

UKHSA, following the publication of its most recent data, reiterated the importance of STI testing and using condoms.

Minister for public health and prevention Ashley Dalton added: “With rising rates of infectious syphilis and antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea, more work clearly needs to be done.

“As part of our Plan for Change, this government is aiming to shift the health service from sickness to prevention.

“This includes rolling out the world’s first vaccine programme to prevent gonorrhoea this summer.”