There has been a 50% increase in the number of people reporting to St James’ with syphilis in the past year.

The worrying figure is proof we need a new public sex health campaing according to a specialist in Urinary Medicine at the hospital.

Also on the up – chlamydia by 25% – with an alarming number of the infections in women aged between 25 and 29.

Dr. Dominic Rolley from St. James’ says the upsurge in new HIV diagnoses proves a new campaign is needed.

“We had 400 new cases diagnosed by the end of 2009,” he said.

“Out of that there was about 165 heterosexual new diagnoses and 140 gay and bisexual men…the vast majority of diagnoses have been below the age of 35.”