Overlap between genitourinary medicine and public health in the surveillance and control of sexually transmitted infection in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The control of sexually transmitted infections (STI), and in particular outbreaks and other acute incidents of STI, often requires resources outside the genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. This study of Consultants in Communicable Disease Control (CsCDC) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, explored the level of collaboration between district public health departments and GUM clinics and the usefulness at local level of STI surveillance data. The results show an inconsistent working relationship between GUM and public health throughout the country and highlight deficiencies in current surveillance systems. Participants in the survey suggested potential remedies to the problems identified including enhanced surveillance of STI and formalised relationships between GUM and local public health departments. Enactment of these suggested remedies may contribute to meeting the challenge of reversing current disease trends.