More sexually transmitted infections are being diagnosed in Kent, new data reveals.

Health experts have put the trend down to new sexual habits linked to the use of dating apps, as well as public budget cuts in sexual health services.

Figures show that 5,201 people were diagnosed with an STI in 2018, compared to 4,785 the previous year - up nearly 9%.

That’s a rate of 540 people being diagnosed with a new infection per 100,000 Kent residents aged 15 to 64 in the area, compared to 851 on average across England.

The figures include new STIs diagnosed by sexual health services, excluding chlamydia in under 25s.

There were 799 new cases of gonorrhoea in the area, up from 478 the previous year. A further 93 cases were related to syphilis, in line with 2017.

Dr Mark Lawton, from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: “Gonorrhoea is a marker of unprotected sexual activity.

“The use of dating apps is likely to be contributing to the increase in STIs seen, along with general changes in attitudes to sex.

“This is happening at a time when we’re seeing significant cuts to funding of sexual health services, affecting access to timely testing and treatment and creating a ‘perfect storm’.”

A World Health Organisation expert said earlier this week condom use was in decline as the fear of HIV shrank due to better treatments.

Nationally, the number of new STI diagnoses increased by 7% in 2018.

“Progress has sharply halted in tackling rates of chlamydia, with rates up 6% last year..." Debbie Laycock

Gonorrhoea increased by 25% to 54,198 cases, the largest number recorded since 1978. There were a further 7,287 cases of syphilis – a 5% increase on 2017.

Debbie Laycock, head of policy and public affairs at the Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity working on HIV and other STI prevention, says urgent action is needed from the government.

Commenting on the figures, she said: “We are yet again seeing soaring rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea, and increases in the number of people attending sexual health services, which is happening against a backdrop of central government stripping £700 million from public health budgets in the last five years.

“Progress has sharply halted in tackling rates of chlamydia, with rates up 6% last year, while there continues to be a decline in the number of chlamydia tests being carried out.

“This is clear evidence that removing access to testing is having a direct impact on the rates of chlamydia, with cases now rising.”

Ms Laycock added: “There is now a real risk to widening health inequalities already faced by certain groups.

“Black, asian, and minority ethnic communities, young people, people living with HIV and gay and bisexual men are once again disproportionally affected by new STI rates.

“Gay and bisexual men, for example, accounted for 75% of new syphilis cases.”

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent