The target is scheduled to take effect in 2008, and was prioritised last week in the NHS Operating Plan for 2006/7, which sets out the business and financial arrangements for the next two years.

The authors, STI co-editor Dr Helen Ward, and immediate past president of the British Association of Sexual Health, Dr Angela Robinson, warn that "failure to deliver on this infection control measure will cost the public purse dearly in the long run."

Boosting the efficiency of services, which many clinics have already done to cope with rising demand over the past decade, will simply not be enough, they write.

They acknowledge the government's commitment to improving sexual health service provision, outlined in its public health white paper, Choosing Health, published in November 2004

But cash strapped trusts are simply not ploughing enough money into sexual health, they say.

"The government has earmarked money for investment in services, but it is becoming clear that a considerable proportion of this will not reach sexual health [clinics] as many primary care trusts struggle with deficits and other priorities."

They cite examples of numerous surveys, pointing to continued long waits for access to routine appointments - as high as 28 days in Northern Ireland - and the increasing trend for restricted access.

Almost one in five clinics has introduced a system whereby patients can only ring to enquire about appointment slots up to two days in advance, rather than being given an appointment within the next two days, according to a survey carried out by the BBC programme Panorama in October.

Only 7 per cent of clinics were able to offer a routine appointment within 48 hours, the same survey found.

A forthcoming survey
'"/>

Contact: Emma Dickinson
edickinson@bmj.com
44-207-383-6529
BMJ Specialty Journals
1-Feb-2006