Sex Disease Cases Leap in Valleys

By Wayne Nowaczyk South Wales Echo

Sex disease cases in the Valleys have soared by 800 PER CENT, according to figures released today.

Health experts in Rhondda Cynon Taf say that the surge in gonorrhoea in RCT, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend is NINE times the Welsh national increase of 87 per cent.

A report to the local health board also cites increases in chlamydia, HIV, syphilis and the number of women under the age of 20 seeking terminations.

Despite the statistics, a spokesman for the LHB admitted people who fear they may have an STD are forced to wait up to six weeks for an appointment. Sexual health crisis: Alarm is growing over the explosion in sexually transmitted diseases in the Valleys – with one politician demanding urgent action from the National Assembly.

A report to the Rhondda Cynon Taf local health board admits clinics in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr and Bridgend have recorded TEN times the 87 per cent Welsh increase in gonorrhoea and a 22 per cent increase in the number of abortions among the under 20s in the year ending 2004.

Infections such as chlamydia, HIV and syphilis have also risen markedly compared to earlier years and only emergency STD cases calling at clinics are likely to be seen in days with half not even offered appointments, said the report.

Leanne Wood AM, Plaid Cymru’s shadow social justice minister, said: ‘This situation is very worrying and I am writing to the health minister, asking him to tackle this situation immediately.’ Patients ‘getting prioritised’: In a statement a spokesman for the Rhondda Cynon Taf LHB said emergency cases not offered a clinic appointment inside RCT would be referred to a GP or another clinic in Cardiff or Gwent.

Those not showing symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease would be referred to an appropriate place like a GP surgery or a clinic.

The spokesman added that non-emergency cases fluctuate from week to week, but appointments can take up to six weeks.

He said: ‘Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Health Board does not consider that to be an acceptable wait and we are doing everything in our power to reduce the waiting time, within the resources available to us.

‘We would like to stress that all emergency cases are assessed, prioritised and are seen within a couple of days.’