Councils should increase the number of free condoms they give to people most at risk of catching sexually transmitted infections, says a health watchdog.
New draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says free condoms should be more widely available to gay men and young people.
The cost of treating STIs costs the NHS about £620m a year, with rates of Syphilis and gonorrhoea rising by 76% and 53% between 2012 and 2015.
Christine Carson, programme director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE, said: ‘We know condoms can protect against many sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
‘If local authorities and other commissioners can work together to increase condom availability and use amongst high-risk groups we could significantly reduce the rates of STIs.’
The guidance also recommends councils provide young people with advice and support to help reduce levels of STIs.
