Sex disease cases soar in capital

The number of Londoners suffering sexually transmitted diseases has risen by more than a third, new figures reveal.

They show that cases of infections soared between 1997 and last year, from 169,721 cases to 228,641. The final figure could be higher as some clinics have still to submit information.

The rise has embarrassed ministers, amid calls for a highprofile, well-funded sexual health campaign. Of particular concern is the rise in chlamydia among the young - it can show no symptoms but leads to infertility in men and women if left untreated.

One in eight men and one in 10 women are thought to have chlamydia, a rate estimated to be even higher among those in their early twenties. The figures show the number of sexually transmitted-infections (STIs) diagnosedin each of London's primary-care trusts. The rise may be due to better clinics seeing more people, population differences, and education.

But the figures do not specify where patients live. This explains the high rate for Camden, which is home to University College Hospital, as people often visit clinics outside their boroughs to ensure secrecy. MP Sarah Teather, who un-earthed the figures, said sexual health had been left out of government priorities for the NHS.

"Ministers have dithered and delayed," said the Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East. "The NHS needs to focus on prevention, not just treating symptoms. The answer has to be better education about sex within the context of relationships, and more accessible sexual health clinics."

The Health Department said millions had been spent on a sexual health strategy, the "first ever" such plan in Britain. A spokesman said: "Rates of STIs tend to be higher in large urban areas. It is encouraging that the rate of increase has slowed."

A spokesman for fpa, formerly the Family Planning Association, called the figures "alarming" and said sexual health services were underfunded.