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Sexual health providers fear they could be forced to stop seeing vulnerable and at risk patients in some parts of the country unless they receive extra government funding to cover the cost of tackling the Monkeypox outbreak.

In a letter to NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the Department of Health and Social Care, sexual health leaders say on average 25-30% of all services have been replaced by Monkeypox assistance since the first case was identified in early May.

This includes a 90% reduction in access to STI screening in the most affected areas, and half of providers needing to reduce their PrEP delivery services to those at risk of contracting HIV by 25%.

They say this drop in appointments for assessment and treatment has resulted in outbreaks of STIs in several parts of the country.

The letter signed by the British HIV Association, and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV says: “In some cases this displacement in financial terms means a potential loss of income to clinics of over £600,000 per quarter.

“This level of loss of income risks destabilising clinics, with loss of staff and, as some providers have warned us, the potential exit from the market of some providers.”

Sexual health leaders also say that vaccination funding of £15 per dose delivered has yet to reach any of the clinics, doesn’t meet the cost of providing the service and doesn’t cover providers for work displacement.

More on Monkeypox

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Monkeypox: How do you catch it, what are the symptoms, and how easily does it spread?
Different strain detected in the UK after patient travelled to West Africa

In a separate letter to Public Health Directors and Commissioning Officers at District Councils, they pleaded for funding to not be withdrawn while they seek extra funding.

“After repeated advocacy with the government and with NHS England/Improvement, we are still at the stage of these national agencies repeatedly requesting evidence while this burden on services remains unfunded,” the letter reads.

“We continue to press them for MPX funding and have repeatedly advised them that the exceptional nature of this epidemic, the transmission routes of MPX and its impact should not be considered as routine sexual health expenditure.”

Responding to the letters, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency, local authorities and NHS England to manage pressures on sexual reproductive health services and ensure access to routine services is maintained.

“The Public Health Grant will increase in each of the next three years, bolstering sexual health services and enabling people to access treatments faster.”

Sky News analysis has found spending on sexual health clinics has reduced in almost every local authority in England since the service was passed on to local governments’ responsibility in 2013, according to data from local authority revenue expenditure and financing.

There have been 3,654 confirmed or highly probable cases of Monkeypox since 6 May, at its peak in mid-July there were around 60 cases per day. That number decreased throughout August and continues to fall.

More than 45,000 people have received a dose of the Monkeypox vaccine, including around 40,000 gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and who are at highest risk of exposure.

Those at highest risk continue to be prioritised but some clinics will offer second doses to provide longer term protection to vulnerable groups two to three months after they receive the first dose, with the NHS inviting those eligible to come forward.

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North Yorkshire: Man’s body recovered from area of flooding in Beal

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North Yorkshire: Man's body recovered from area of flooding in Beal

A man’s body has been recovered from an area of flooding in North Yorkshire, police have said, as major incidents have been declared in two counties.

The body was found near Intake Lane in Beal, close to Eggborough and Knottingley.

Police believe the man may have entered the water in the last 24 to 48 hours.

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North Yorkshire Police said: “Despite extensive enquiries, including with our colleagues in Humberside and West Yorkshire Police, we have been unable to identify him.

“He was found without any identification or personal belongings.”

The man was also described as white, in his early 50s to 60s, with light brown short hair and stubble.

He was wearing brown walking boots, blue denim jeans, a multicoloured knitted jumper and possibly a dark green waterproof coat, police added.

It comes after Leicestershire and Lincolnshire both declared a major incident in response to the extreme weather hitting the UK and Ireland.

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Leicestershire Fire and Rescue was the first emergency service in England to declare an incident and said it had received more than 200 calls since Monday morning over widespread flooding.

Crews had found cars stuck in floodwater and evacuated residents from flooded homes and rising waters, with some 17 people rescued as of 1.45pm.

The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum declared a major incident shortly after, and noted that emergency services had rescued children who were stranded at a school in Edenham.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has three yellow weather warnings – each for snow and ice – in effect throughout Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Met Office yellow weather warnings for snow and ice on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 of January. Pic: Met Office
Image:
Pic: Met Office

A warning covering the west and north coast of Scotland – reaching into Inverness and Aberdeen – will last until midday, while an alert in effect for all of Northern Ireland will last until 11am.

The Met Office has also issued a warning covering Wales and parts of northwest England on Monday evening, moving into southwest England, the Midlands and parts of southern England in the early hours of Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a yellow weather warning for snow is in effect across the south of England – stretching from just above Truro in Cornwall to Canterbury in Kent – from 9am to midnight.

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Man charged following reports of threats towards Jess Phillips, Sky News understands

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Man charged following reports of threats towards Jess Phillips, Sky News understands

A man has been charged following reports of threats towards Labour safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, Sky News understands.

Jack Bennett, 39, has been charged with three counts of malicious communications, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The messages were sent between April 2024 and January 2025 involving three victims, including the Birmingham Yardley MP.

It is understood the accused, from Seaton, east Devon, was charged over the weekend.

He has been bailed to appear before Exeter Magistrates’ Court on 18 February 2025.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke about a “line being crossed” regarding comments towards Ms Phillips and said that she had been receiving threats.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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HMP Wandsworth prison officer filmed having sex with inmate sentenced to 15 months

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HMP Wandsworth prison officer filmed having sex with inmate sentenced to 15 months

A prison officer who was filmed having sex with an inmate has been sentenced to 15 months in jail.

Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, was on duty at HMP Wandsworth in London when she entered the prisoner’s cell and had sex with him on 27 June.

The encounter was filmed by another inmate and lasted for almost five minutes.

She was identified by HMP Wandsworth staff and arrested by the Metropolitan Police at Heathrow Airport after the footage went viral on social media.

The prison officer was planning to fly to Madrid and telephoned the prison as she fled to the airport to say that she was not returning to work.

De Sousa Abreu then pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office on 29 July last year.

The charge said the 31-year-old “wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by engaging in a sexual act with a prisoner in a prison cell”.

Tetteh Turkson, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added last year that the incident was “a shocking breach of the public’s trust,” and that De Sousa Abreu “was clearly an enthusiastic participant who wrongly thought she would avoid responsibility”.

“The CPS recognises there is no excuse for any prison officer who conducts themselves in such a manner, and we will never hesitate to prosecute those who abuse their position of power,” she added.

“After working closely with the Metropolitan Police to build the strongest possible case, De Sousa had no option but accept she was guilty. She will now rightly face the consequences of her actions.”

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