CHLAMYDIA screening in Salford fell below national targets last year, according to an NHS report.
The Primary Care Trust’s provision of access to reproductive health services, which covers screening of the STI, only reached 8.59 per cent of the 15 per cent target that was set by the Healthcare Commission.
The findings come after tests in March diagnosed one in six Salfordians with the disease - one in nine is the national average.
Geoff Holliday, Salford PCT's public health commissioner said at the time it was a ‘problem’ in Salford.
The PCT's annual report claims that Chlamydia screening is one of their ‘more challenging targets’ and they have ‘further work to do’ in terms of extending their screening programme and reducing teenage pregnancy rates.
A spokesperson for the PCT said: "The Healthcare Commission set all primary care trusts a target of 15 per cent and the PCT recognised this would be a challenging target to meet.
"Salford PCT was ranked second in Greater Manchester and 16th nationally out of 152 PCTs for its chlamydia screening rates for 16 to 24-year-olds during 2007/08.
"The PCT achieved this figure by launching a proactive chlamydia screening campaign, which encouraged the city’s young people to come forward for testing.
"The project included writing to all 16 to 24-year-olds in Salford inviting them to have a test and sending out free testing postal kits to the city’s 7,000 21-year-olds."
The PCT says chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection, yet many people do not realise they have it.
Treatment can be a simple course of antibiotics but if left untreated, the STI
can lead to long-term health complications, including infertility.
The higher-than-average rates of the STI in the city were found earlier this year after Salford PCT launched their ‘pee in a pot’ roadshow aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds.
The PCT added that they will shortly be launching another campaign and hopes to improve on last year’s screening rates. As part of Salford PCT's RU Clear campaign, sexually active young people under 25 are being encouraged to be tested for chlamydia.
For more information call the RU Clear confidential helpline on: 0845 330 6363. or log onto: www.ruclear.co.uk.
Reader Comments (1)
Sexual promiscuity is the problem and until agents of the State like Salford PCT's public health commissioner acknowledge that and start to discourage promiscuity itself then things will only get worse.
There urgently needs to be a change of culture in this country, a return to traditional standards of sexual morality - namely chastity before marriage and fidelity within. Teenage children should not be having casual sex (as encouraged and facilitated by the State) at all. Until we return to sanity in the UK and see an end to sexual activity amongst children then numbers of STIs and abortions will only get worse, and society will continue to deteriorate.”