NHS issues Bank Holiday weekend warning to millions over expected surge in STIs

BANK holiday weekends lead to a surge in online searches about sexually transmitted infections, the NHS says.

Visits to the website spiked by 38 per cent as frisky but regretful Brits checked symptoms after the May, June and August long weekends last year.

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There were an average of 7,414 visits per day following a bank holiday.

Dr John White, an NHS sexual health consultant, said: “Bank holidays give people a chance to have fun. 

“For some people this might result in the need to get checked for STIs or access emergency contraception.”

Last year’s May Day bank holiday saw 6,840 visits to the search tool on Tuesday, May 3. 

The extended Jubilee bank holiday weekend, which gave people time off on the Thursday and Friday, also saw a hike in page visits to 7,628 on Monday, June 6.

There was also a peak following the August bank holiday weekend with 7,774 visits on Tuesday, August 30.

Robert Cleary, of the NHS, said: “Our Find a sexual health clinic page is designed to help people search for the most appropriate service to meet their health needs.

“The NHS website is available every day of the year for anyone who needs it and provides information and advice in easy-to-understand language on a wide range of conditions.

“It is accessible for all and easy for people to receive health advice and support from a trustworthy source.”

Sexual health service consultations in England jumped to more than 4million 2021, the latest date data is available for.

It was an increase of 15.7 per cent on 2020 and 3.9 per cent since 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

There were 1.9million STI tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV, up 19 per cent on 2020 but down 13.2 per cent on 2019.