Sexually transmitted infections in Suffolk have seen a small rise after dropping in the last few years.

There was a dip in the number of new STI diagnoses in 2020, according to new data from the government's Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

The figures come as the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents public health councils, said last month that sexual health services are now "over-stretched, under strain and at breaking point", calling on the government to provide extra funding to meet the demand.

The figures show all new STI diagnoses among people accessing sexual health services, representing the cases in people who normally live in England, presented in a rate per 100,000 population.

The data shows a drop between 2019 – when there was a rate of 547 new diagnoses per 100,000 people in Suffolk – and 2020/21, when this dipped first to 395 and then 376 per 100,000 people.

The Suffolk rate is lower than averages for the East of England region, which is at 438 per 100,000, as well as England overall, which sits at 694 per 100,000 people.

The figures also mirror a national trend, where new diagnoses slumped in the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years.

There has been a greater rise in 2022 overall for England, with a jump from 561 per 100,000 in 2021 to 694 per 100,000 in 2022.

Stuart Keeble, director of public health at Suffolk County Council, said: “In Suffolk we are seeing a small increase in STI diagnoses, which is reflected nationally.

“We are closely monitoring the trend and are working with our regional and national colleagues to understand this recent rise in STI diagnoses.

“Suffolk residents can reduce their risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) by getting tested regularly and by using a condom when having sex.

"We urge anyone with symptoms of an STI, or suspected symptoms of an STI to get tested."

For more information on sexual health screenings, resources and advice in Suffolk, visit: www.icash.nhs.uk/where-to-go/icash-suffolk and freetesting.hiv.