Sexual Health (Hansard, 8 December 2003)

§ Mr. Burns
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average waiting time for each genito-urinary medicine clinic in England from first walking into the clinic to being treated for(a) men and (b) women was in 2003; and what the figures were in (i) 2000 and (ii) 1997; [140601]
(2) what the average time is an (a) man and (b) woman has had to wait in a (i) genito-urinary medicine clinic and (ii) sexual health clinic between walking into the clinic and being seen by a specialist in 2003; and what the figures were in (A) 2000 and (B) 1997; [140602]
(3) how many (a) men and (b) women have been initially turned away without treatment from a (i) genito-urinary medicine clinic and (ii) sexual health clinic in the last 24 months; and for what reasons this happened; [140603]
(4) if he will make a statement on (a) the mean and (b) the median waiting time for (i) men and (ii) women to receive treatment from a sexual health clinic in (A) the last year for which figures are available, (B) 2000 and (C) 1997; [140604]
(5) what the longest waiting times for treatment in (a) genito-urinary medicine clinics and (b) sexual health clinics was in (i) the last year for which figures are available, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 1997; and if he will make a statement; [140689]
(6) what the average waiting time from first contact with a sexual health clinic to being treated is for (a) men and (b) women in each sexual health clinic in England was in the last year for which figures are available; and what the waiting times were in (i) 2000 and (ii) 1997; [140690]
(7) how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women waited (i) 1 to 3 days, (ii) 4 to 7 days, (iii) 8 to 14 days, (iv) 15 to 21 days, (v) 21 to 28 days and (vi) over 28 days for treatment after their first examination at (A) genito-urinary medicine clinics and (B) sexual health clinics in (1) the last year for which figures are available, (2) 2000 and (3) 1997; and if he will make a statement; [140694]
(8) what the (a) mean and (b) median waiting times for (i) men and (ii) women to receive treatment for a sexually transmitted infection from (A) a GP and (B) a genito-urinary medicine clinic were in (1) the last year for which figures are available, (2) 2000 and (3) 1997; [140717]
318W
(9) how many genito-urinary medicine clinics provided walk-in facilities in the past and no longer do so. [140718]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
These data are not currently collected centrally. We are examining with the Health Protection Agency ways in which data on waiting times at genito-urinary medicine clinics can be obtained. Early next year, we will be undertaking pilot surveys in a number of genito-urinary medicine clinics, where patients will be asked to complete a short anonymous questionnaire seeking information on waiting times in days. Because data on postcode will be collected it will be possible to calculate average waiting times for the residents of individual primary care trusts. If the pilots are successful the first main survey of clinics will be undertaken in 2004.

§ Mr. Burns
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on measures to tackle the incidence of sexual ill health; and what steps he is taking to improve access to(a) medical advice and (b) treatment for people suffering from a sexually transmitted infection. [140695]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The Government are concerned about the poor state of sexual health and remain committed to tackling increasing rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through the Sexual Health and HIV strategy. Reducing transmissions of STIs is a complex issue that will involve people in changing their behaviour. We are drawing on the best evidence on what works to achieve this. Our "sex lottery"' campaign is designed to improve awareness of STIs and how to avoid them. The Department has invested over £35 million in the past two years in specialist genito-urinary medicine clinics, including an additional £15 million just announced for capital investment. This funding will increase capacity in services and reduce waiting times, thereby helping primary care trusts to offer quicker access to diagnosis and treatment. We are also rolling out a chlamydia screening programme and investing £8 million to convert laboratories in every area to a superior and more reliable test for chlamydia.

§ Mr. Burns
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) sexual health and (b) genito-urinary medicine clinics there are in England; how many there were in (i) 2000 and (ii) 1997; and how many have walk-in facilities. [140705]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
There are currently 208 genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England. In 2000 there were 207 and in 1997 there were 208. The Department is investing £1.8 million this year and in next two financial years to pump-prime development of GUM services in 10 areas and expand service capacity.
Sexual health clinics are integrated services providing a range of advice, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and contraception. Data are not collected on numbers of these services or how many clinics provide walk-in facilities.