GONORRHOEA cases identified in East Lancashire have increased seven-fold in the last 10 years and chlamydia cases have increased five-fold.

East Lancashire Primary Care Trust is now expanding its genito-urinary medicine (GUM) programme, with increased screening and attempts to recruit specialist nurses and doctors for sexual health clinics.

Cases of gonorrhoea have risen from 17 in 1995 to 129 in 2005, while chlamydia cases have gone from 159 in 1995 to 852 in 2005.

Herpes and anogenital warts have also increased steadily in the same period.

Comparisons of figures from Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley with national models of estimated "at risk" numbers show that women are being tested twice as often as is necessary, but men are tested at less than 40per cent of the rate needed to correctly monitor infection.

The PCT has now made GUM appointments available within 48 hours of a call but, despite a publicity campaign, is still losing money through patients failing to turn up.

The trust has conducted patient surveys to find ways of improving the service, and a study of teenagers' sexual health needs is due to be completed next month.

But it is facing problems in recruiting specialist staff, and has not yet been able to fully research the reasons why men in the area are reluctant to be tested.