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<p>We estimate that increases in rates of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia are due
to a number of factors. These include increases in both the number of people attending
sexual health services and the number of tests for sexually transmitted infections.
Public Health England has advised that other factors include, better detection of
infection and behavioural changes such as an increase in partner numbers and condomless
sex, as well as, for some men who have sex with men, ‘chemsex’ and group sex facilitated
by geosocial networking applications.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities will receive
£3.1 billion in 2019/20, ring-fenced exclusively for use on public health, including
sexual health. We are investing over £16 billion in local authority public health
services over the five years of the 2015 Spending Review until 2020/21. It is for
individual local authorities to decide their spending priorities based on an assessment
of local need, including the need for sexual health services taking account of their
statutory duties.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities are required by regulations to provide
comprehensive open access sexual health services, including provision for sexually
transmitted infection testing and treatment and contraception.</p><p> </p><p>The latest
statistics show that more people are now accessing sexual health services. Attendances
have increased by 7% between 2017 and 2018 (from 3,337,677 to 3,561,548). This continues
the trend of increases in attendances seen over the past five years. To help manage
the overall increase in demand, local authorities are increasingly commissioning online
services to manage lower risk and asymptomatic patients. These services have the potential
to reach groups not currently engaged with clinic services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
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