Thank you for publicising the rise in sexually transmitted infections (November 30).

A key reason for this rise is inadequate resources being put into sexual health clinics.

Some STIs have no symptoms or it is difficult to tell if there is an infection.

If someone thinks they have an infection or just wants to go for a check-up there is a two or three-week wait for an appointment at clinics.

Nearly all clinics run non-appointment drop-in services, including Brighton and Hove's Claude Nicol, but it is quite normal to wait up to four hours to be seen.

This all acts as a disincentive for people to have anything they are worried about checked out so if there is an infection present it can carry on being spread.

Conditions at Claude Nicol are described as "cramped" - a bit of an under-statement. The clinic opens only a few hours each week and sometimes the waiting rooms can be so packed that male and female patients sit on the floor and queues go out of the main door.

All the staff do a fantastic job and no criticism should be put on to them. The pressure on the service should not be used as an excuse to "modernise" them (same pay for more work). Extra resources in total need to go into this service.

The Government talks about the extra money going into the NHS.

We need to get past the embarrassment and secrecy that surrounds sexual health services and make sure some of that extra money goes there too.

How to stop the spread of STIs? Quite simple: Have a service that can tell people immediately if they are infected so they can be treated and stop spreading the infection.

-Billy Dann, Windmill Street, Brighton