Swindon is in the grip of a sex disease crisis that will worsen unless cash-starved services get big injections of funds, the Government has been warned.

South Swindon Labour MP Julia Drown said that NHS staff were swamped by patients and that medical services were "vulnerable" and teetering on the brink of collapse.

And in a stark assessment she said that the situation could deteriorate further, with a recent £30,000 'priming' grant to boost sexual health care in Swindon just "a drop in the ocean."

Ms Drown, widely respected for her work on an official nationwide investigation into sex health treatment facilities, said some positive action by the Government had taken place.

And she welcomed steps by local health authorities, which have put in place a three-year programme designed to cope with the epidemic.

But she made clear not nearly enough had been done.

She said: "Since 1998, there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of new patients attending the STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) clinic in Swindon, which is higher than the national rate.

"In subsequent years, waiting times have increased from two to four days, which is a reasonable time scale, up to three or four weeks which is too long for someone with serious concerns. In Swindon we estimate that we will need an additional 14 clinics over the next three years."

Ms Drown, said the town's NHS was involved in excellent work both treating and educating young people about the potentially lethal effects of STIs.

But speaking in the House of Commons last week, she said that dramatic action was needed at the highest levels if the problem was to be properly tackled.

She appealed for the Government to accept a bid for extra cash, which has been put forward by the local health authority.

She said: "I urge them (the Government) to do more, particularly to ensure that we have the funding to deliver locally.

"In particular, I hope that the needs of Swindon will be addressed and that we will be selected as a pilot site for developing genito-urinary medicine services. I know that will make a big difference to public health in Swindon."

Last year Dr Guy Rooney, consultant at the sexual health department at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, told the Evening Advertiser how Swindon had seen a 50 per cent increase in new patients in the last five years.

The department now sees about 300 people a week.

He said: "Five years ago you could get an appointment in two to four days. Now the wait for a routine appointment is four weeks.

"The usage has increased but we have not received extra resources.

"A lot is to do with sexual attitudes and lifestyle. People may have condoms, but might not use them consistently, or use them incorrectly.

Jane Leaman, director of public health at Swindon Primary Care Trust, said: "The national rates of sexually transmitted infections have increased significantly in recent years and this picture is similar in Swindon.

"Therefore Swindon Primary Care Trust recognises this as a key health issue and welcomes any national funding support.

"However it is also working with local service providers to support developments to meet the local need.

"It also runs a comprehensive programme in the community to prevent sexually transmitted infections."