Sexual health services are at “breaking point” after {pound}1bn in cuts since 2015

Growing demand for sexual health consultations coupled with cuts in funding has left services in England at “breaking point,” the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.1Figures from the association’s report show that the total number of sexual health consultations in 2021 stood at 4 002 827—up by 16% from 2020 and by 36% since 2013. At the same time cuts in funding have led to a 17% reduction in spending on sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, contraception, and treatment over the past seven years.Councils are calling on the chancellor to use the government’s upcoming autumn statement to reverse these spending cuts and provide long term funding increases to manage the rise in demand.Since 2013, local authorities in England have had responsibility for commissioning most sexual and reproductive health services through the public health grant. But the LGA said that the grant had been cut by £1bn (€1.14bn; $1.19bn) since 2015…
Read Original Article: Sexual health services are at “breaking point” after {pound}1bn in cuts since 2015 »