Burstow - Government must act to combat rise in HIV cases

11.00.20am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Mar 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has called for urgent government action in response to information showing that the number of HIV cases in Sutton more than doubled between 2001 and 2005. This is almost twice the average level of increase seen across the capital, which has seen a 58% increase.

Mr Burstow's Liberal Democrat colleague, Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone received the information in response to a Parliamentary Question to the Health Department.

Mr Burstow is calling on the government to take immediate action to combat the increase. He has also written to Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust asking what steps they will be taking to tackle the problem.

Mr Burstow said:

"We must act now to stop this dangerous trend.

"This shows the government's failure in educational efforts surrounding sexual health as well as a failure to address the rise of HIV among drug users in London. This is a problem that the government can't run or hide from. Urgent action is needed.

"Ministers have dithered and delayed for too long on sexual health. The problem is spreading and the government need to realise that preventing the rising tide of infections would save the NHS millions in London and, more importantly, would save lives.