Nick Partridge, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said:

"This illustrates the vital importance of primary care trusts using the money the government has given them for sexual health appropriately. We are deeply concerned that despite clear direction by government and despite the continuing rise in sexual infections many PCTs still fail to take sexual health seriously. Until they do so, these figures will continue to rise and sexual ill health will continue to be a major threat to the population."

Ends

Notes to Editors

For more information on stats on sexually transmitted infections please see the HPA press release.