BMA calls for Government action to tackle sexual health crisis UK
Main Category: Sexual Health / STDsArticle Date: 27 Jul 2004 - 11:00 PDT
'BMA calls for Government action to tackle sexual health crisis UK'
| Patient / Public: | ![]() | |
| Healthcare Prof: | ![]() |
|
| Article opinions: | 1 posts |
BMA (British Medical Association) Chairman, Mr James Johnson, is calling on the Government to get its act together to bring down the soaring rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Health Protection Agency (HPA) figures for 2003 released today [27 July] show that STI rates are still on the increase in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Commenting on the figures, Mr James Johnson said:
"Another year, another set of figures and yet more predictions of an impending public health crisis. Well, I've got news for the Government, the crisis is here. Despite showing a slowing down of the rate of increase for some STIs, the 2003 figures still make very depressing reading indeed.
"With a 9% rise of chlamydia cases, thousands of women could become infertile as a result of this infection which often shows no symptoms.
"The BMA is particularly concerned that the increasing incidence of sexually transmitted infections is leaving genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics unable to cope. Many patients are not being seen within the 48-hour target but only after weeks of delay.
"It is a scandal that the service we offer patients today is worse than it was ninety years ago. During the First World War a free, rapid and totally confidential service was set up to treat sexually transmitted infections.
Nearly a century later patients who turn up at GUM clinics can wait up to six weeks for an appointment. What use is that?"
Ends
For more information please contact:
Franca Tranza
Tel: 020 7383 6188
Fax: 020 7383 6403
Email: ftranza@bma.org.uk
Public Affairs Division
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
After 6:00 pm and weekends:
+44 (0) 208 651 5130
+44 (0) 208 444 7992
+44 (0) 1525 379792
+44 (0) 7870 477432
+44 (0) 115 845 1860
Visit our sexual health / stds section for the latest news on this subject.
MLA
23 May. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/11282.php>
APA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/11282.php.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
STDs-Shabby Detritus of a Culture involving Self Respect
posted by Malachy McAnespie on 27 Jul 2004 at 12:33 pmThe Gov. cannot recreate a displaced culture. People do not know who they are .Self Respect has eroded, and the problem is partially due to manic barnyard behaviour.The Idea of Consequences is Old Fashioned
Add Your Opinion On This Article
'BMA calls for Government action to tackle sexual health crisis UK'Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
![]()
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.



