Government lays out new plans to improve UK sexual health

The Department of Health has published a new strategy that will encourage and assist local authorities in improving sexual health standards across the country.

From April 1st 2013, all local councils will be given a specific ring-fenced budget which will be used to improve the public health of their communities, meaning they can take a more active role in sexual health matters.

To coincide with this change, the government is setting out a number of goals to be achieved, such as a reduction in the number of unwanted pregnancies, greater efforts to prevent sexually-transmitted infections and HIV, and better access to sexual health services.

It is also hoped that a more honest and open culture can be created around issues of this kind, with counselling available to all women who request an abortion so they can consider all of their options.

Public health minister Anna Soubry said: "Sexual health can be a hidden problem, unspoken about among families and friends, and we need to work hard to change that."

This comes after the government provided almost eight million pounds in funding to provide sexual health information and drive down HIV infection rates last summer.