Waiting lists force many to pay €150 for STI tests

TENS of thousands of people are being forced to spend up to €150 on tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to waiting lists of up to eight weeks at many public hospital clinics or due to inconvenient opening hours.

The Labour party has criticised the Government for failing to adequately provide such facilities, saying greater resources have to be pumped into public clinics so services can be accessed quickly and cheaply.

Between 1994 and 2003, a 173% rise in STIs was recorded by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). The HPSC has urged people to practice safe sex, but to get checked out as soon as possible if a person has concerns.