My thoughts and sympathies are with all of those affected by the terrible earthquake in Mexico. The UK government is in close contact with the relevant authorities and we are ready to provide support in any way that we can. We are working to identify … read more
A new report released by Public Health England (PHE) shows new cases of gonorrhoea in Londoners dropped by 19% in 2016 compared with figures from the year before.
Gonorrhoea had been increasing year-on-year in the capital since 2009, and this reduction may be an encouraging sign that Londoners are getting tested for STIs more frequently and are practicing safe sex by using condoms.
Overall sexually transmitted infections (STIs) fell by 5% in London last year with decreases seen among most of the 5 major STIs. New cases of genital warts fell by 5% and cases of genital herpes dropped by 2%. But the data also comes with a note of caution as the number of syphilis diagnoses reported rose by 2% in 2016, double the number reported in 2012. Cases of chlamydia meanwhile, the most common STI, increased by 1%.
STIs remain an important public health problem in London, with the capital having the highest rate of new diagnoses in England, 79% higher than any other part of the country. Of the top 20 local authorities in England with the highest rates of new STI diagnoses, 17 were in London.
Overall in 2016, there were 117,600 new STIs diagnosed in London residents compared with more than 123,800 diagnosed in 2015.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Regional Director for PHE London, said:
London has turned the tide on an 8 year surge of gonorrhoea with overall rates of STIs decreasing.
This encouraging news could show that work to promote frequent testing together with safe sex practices is paying off. This means people are using condoms and are regularly being tested.
However, the data comes with a note of caution. Poor sexual health remains a public health problem in London and STIs are still too high compared to other parts of the country, with rates of syphilis and chlamydia actually increasing.
Tackling poor sexual health remains high on the agenda for PHE London and we will continue to work with our partners to deliver effective public health interventions to improve sexual health outcomes across the capital.
To reduce the number of STIs, it is important that Londoners are familiar with PHE’s recommendations for safe sexual health. These include getting tested every year and when changing sexual partner, as well as getting re-tested after a positive chlamydia diagnosis (within 3 months of the diagnosis).
The annual epidemiological spotlight on sexually transmitted infections in London (2016 data is available online.
You can view local data on sexual health via PHE’s Sexual Reproductive Health Profiles online.
PHE published annual data on STI diagnoses in June 2017 and these are available online.
For safe sex, PHE recommends:
The London HIV Prevention Programme, a London-wide sexual health promotion initiative funded by London local authorities, delivers the ‘Do It London’ sexual health campaigns aimed at promoting safer sex to all residents in the capital including reducing risk of STIs.
The London annual data spotlight report, presenting annual epidemiological data for HIV in London, is available online.
Rates of selected STIs per 100,000 population by London borough of residence: 2016 is available.
Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health. Follow us on Twitter: @PHE_uk and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland.
read moreThe Environment Agency has received an application from Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust for a licence to abstract (take) water. read more
The Environment Agency has received an application from Anglian Water Services Limited for a licence to abstract (take) water. read more
The Business Secretary and the lead representative of the UK’s three steel unions today (20 September) welcomed an ‘important step’ for the country’s steel industry after Tata Steel Limited and ThyssenKrupp signed a formal agreement that could secure the future of Port Talbot.
Greg Clark and Roy Rickhuss, the chair of the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, said the deal between Tata and ThyssenKrupp had the potential to protect the long-term future of steelmaking at Tata’s site in South Wales, its 4,000 jobs and the wider supply chain. The site is home to the Indian conglomerate’s strip steel business.
The government and unions said they welcomed the move as long as commitments to safeguard jobs and extend blast furnace operations over the long-term at Port Talbot were maintained. This includes the relining of the site’s second blast furnace.
The memorandum of understanding signed between Tata and ThyssenKrupp, the German engineering group, marks the latest stage in the development of a joint venture between the companies to build a pan-European steel enterprise. The company will become TK-Tata Steel.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said:
The Government has been working hard with the unions to secure a sustainable future for Tata Steel in the UK, its 4,000 employees at the Port Talbot site and its supply chain.
Today’s agreement between Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp is an important next step in establishing their shared ambition for Port Talbot as a world-class steel manufacturer, with a focus on quality, technology and innovation.
Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community and chair of the coordinating committee representing the Unite, GMB and Community unions, said: > The steel trade unions cautiously welcome this news and recognise the industrial logic of such a partnership. This would create the second biggest steel business in Europe which could deliver significant benefits for the UK.
As always, the devil will be in the detail and we are seeking further assurances on jobs, investment and future production across the UK operations. As a priority, we will be pressing Tata to demonstrate their long term commitment to steelmaking in the UK by confirming they will invest in the reline of Port Talbot’s Blast Furnace No.5.
The agreement follows close working between unions, Tata and the Government to ensure sustainable steelmaking maintains a central role in a strong and successful UK economy. It is hoped that the joint venture would also enable TK-Tata, working with UK vehicle manufacturers and their supply chains, to contribute to the focus on innovation in the government’s Industrial Strategy.
The joint venture comes after the recent conclusion of Tata’s discussions with the British Steel Pension Fund, the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Protection Fund about a plan to manage its pension liabilities. This enabled a Regulatory Apportionment Arrangement to be reached, giving pension scheme members the opportunity to transfer to a new scheme.
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