An Aids charity has warned cases of sexually transmitted infections will continue to increase unless patients get treatment more quickly.

The Terrence Higgins Trust investigation shows fewer than half of people attending genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the South East are seen within 48 hours.

Perry French, regional manager at the Brighton-based Terrence Higgins Trust South, said: "With current waiting times for clinic appointments, it's no wonder STI rates are continuing to rise.

"More than a quarter of people in our region have to wait more than two weeks to be seen. It is simply not good enough. From 2006, £300 million will begin to be available to the NHS for these services but it is essential it reaches local frontline sexual health facilities.

"We now have the worst levels of sexual health since the Second World War. We must use this opportunity to turn things around. Miss it and spiralling sexual health trends will only continue."

The study highlights the fact that the longer a person remains untreated for a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the more likely they are to pass it on to others.

The Government has set a target that by 2008 everyone should be offered a GUM appointment within 48 hours but many local health services are a long way from achieving this.

The Government's public health White Paper has highlighted plans to allocate £300 million to transform sexual health services in England. money will be available from 2006 but there will be no stringent checks in place to ensure this money is put into sexual health services.

Mr French said the charity was working closely with staff at clinics run by the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

He said: "We have a very good working relationship with them and will do what we can to back them up when it comes to meeting these Government targets."