Patients with sexually transmitted infections in Bradford are not being treated quickly enough, pushing up rates of STIs in the district.

The problem is highlighted in a Terrence Higgins Trust report published today that shows just 38 per cent of people attending genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the Yorkshire region are seen within 48 hours.

The report "Sexually Trans-mitted Infections: Tackling a Growing Crisis" emphasises the fact that the longer a person remains untreated, the more likely they are to pass the infection on to others.

The Government has set a target that by 2008 everyone should be offered a GUM appointment within 48 hours but many local primary care trusts are struggling to get anywhere near this goal.

The latest figures available from the Health Protection Agency for May 2005 show that in Airedale just 37 per cent of the 19 patients who attended a GUM clinic were seen within 48 hours.

In Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust area 29 patients attended and 45 per cent were seen within 48 hours, in Bradford South and West 57 per cent of the 21 patients were seen within 48 hours, and in North Bradford PCT area 50 per cent of the 18 patients were seen within 48 hours.

Rates of sexually transmitted diseases have trebled in the last decade and overall work for GUM clinics has increased by more than 70 per cent since 1997.

In addition many clinics are reporting an increase in the number of complicated cases. It is estimated one third of people with symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease continue to have sex.

Liz Paine, clinical lead for sexual health for Airedale Primary Care Trust, said: "We are aware that there have been difficulties with providing this service due to consultant's time commitments.

"However, we are looking at different ways of making sure that patients can be seen within 48 hours by using a GP and nurses with a specialism in sexual health to work alongside the consultant."

David Greenway, regional manager of Terrence Higgins Trust Yorkshire said: "With current waiting times for clinic appointments it's no wonder STI rates are continuing to rise.

"Almost a third of people in our region have to wait more than two weeks to be seen. It is simply not good enough."

The Government plans to allocate £300 million to transform sexual health services in England in 2006 and Mr Greenway said it was essential this money reached frontline services.

"We now have the worst levels of sexual health since the Second World War," he said. "We must use this opportunity to turn things around."