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Map shows where condom shortages are hitting the UK | UK News

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Map shows where condom shortages are hitting the UK | UK News


Close-up view of many colorful condoms
Clinics in Somerset are facing condom shortages (Image: Getty)

Sexual Health Services in Somerset are facing condom shortages due to supply issues in the Middle East.

Clinics have had to reduce the number of condoms given to patients and those who request them from the integrated Somerset-wide Sexual Health Service website.

Clinics from Bridgwater to Taunton reported shortages; Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said they were “confident” supplies would return to normal soon.

A spokesperson said in a statement: ‘We are experiencing a short-term supply chain issue which means we are temporarily reducing the quantity of condoms supplied in safe sex packs that people can request.’

Weston Mercury Clinics affected by the shortage were reported to be: Bridgwater, Burnham-on-sea, Chard, Crewkerne, Langport, Frome, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, Street, Wells, Minehead, Williton, Watchet, Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil and Wincanton.

Check out our map below to see the full picture of affected clinics.


METRO GRAPHICS map of Somerset shows locations of condom shortages (Image: Metro.co.uk)
There is a shortage of rubber gloves in clinics from Taunton to Frome (Image: Metro)

The shortage emerged after it was revealed in September that condom use in the UK had reached an all-time low.

Statistics from Durex have revealed that the UK ranked 33rd out of 36 countries surveyed for condom use last year.

Only 11% of survey respondents said they used condoms regularly. In January, the chief executive of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV said sexual health services were close to a ‘crisis’ on free condoms.

Dr Claire Dewsnap, England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty and children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza appeared before the Women and Equalities Committee and issued a dire update.

Sir Chris said there were around 199,000 cases of chlamydia a year, as well as around 82,000 cases of gonorrhea, around 26,000 cases of genital warts and 8,500 cases of syphilis.

Dr Dewsnap said many clinics had to ration free condoms: ‘People use free condoms if they use them, and they still want them. But unfortunately in most clinics we ration the amount we give, no matter how terrible it may seem.’


Colorful condom collectionSelective focus; shallow DOF
This comes as chief medical leaders warned of a ‘crisis’ earlier this year (Image: Getty)

Asked how sexual health services are coping with increasing demands, Dr Dewsnap said: ‘I don’t like to use the word crisis but we are very close to it.

He added: ‘Access is not good enough. There is no doubt about it. And there is no doubt that this is a result of declining funding.

‘So we’ve had a real funding cut of around £150 million going into all sexual health services over the last 10 years.

‘And this ultimately means the clinics are less staffed because the vast majority of our budget goes to staff.’

Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

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