The LGA is calling on whoever forms the next government to launch a new 10-year sexual health strategy.
It comes as the latest statistics reveal a rise in new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in England.
According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there were 401,800 diagnoses of new STIs in England in 2023 – an increase of 4.7 per cent since 2022.
The UKHSA data also showed there were 85,223 gonorrhoea diagnoses – an increase of 7.5 per cent, while there were 9,513 cases of infectious syphilis, up 9.4 per cent.
The figures also show a 5 per cent increase in the number of consultations delivered by sexual health services in England in 2023 compared to the year before – increasing from 4,392,466 to 4,610,410.
The LGA says a long-term strategy is needed to help prevent and treat infections by addressing issues around sustainable funding, workforce challenges and fragmentation of services.
There hasn’t been a new strategy since 2001.
Councils blame a perfect storm of problems accessing contraception and spiralling demand for driving up infection rates.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils want to continue encouraging more people to visit their local sexual health clinic, in particular under-served communities.
“However, these figures show sexual health services continue to face rising demand pressures.
“This is why we are calling for a new 10-year strategy to tackle infection rates, and ensure that sexual health services are properly funded and resourced in the long term.”
