A HOSPITAL clinic that treats patients with HIV and sexually transmitted diseases has temporarily closed its doors to new sufferers because of a staff shortage.

St Helens Hospital's genito-urinary clinic will not make any more appointments for new patients until September.

The decision was taken after a small number of staff left the clinic around the same time. St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust describe the situation as an "unusual set of circumstances".

The news follows recent health warnings about rising levels of STDs across the country. Figures released last month suggested the number of HIV sufferers on Merseyside had doubled in the past year.

The Trust confirmed in a statement that the number of people treated at the clinic with HIV has risen.

The statement read: "The number of people with HIV seen at the clinic in St Helens has increased significantly, although this may be due to enhanced services being made available at St Helens rather than patients having to travel to other parts of the north west for treatment.

"Circumstances beyond the Trust's control e.g. staffing changes have unfortunately resulted in the service being affected. However a recruitment programme is underway.

Patients currently needing referrals will either be treated by GPs or given appointments at clinics in Liverpool, added the Trust. Other patients who already had appointments booked for August will still be treated at the clinic.