Guidance

GUMCAD STI Surveillance System

Guidance on the collection and reporting of data for GUMCAD, the surveillance system for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England.

About

The GUMCAD STI Surveillance System is the new name for the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD).

GUMCAD is the mandatory surveillance system for STIs and collects data on STI tests, diagnoses and services from all commissioned sexual health services in England. It is an electronic, pseudonymised patient-level dataset reported by about 400 services.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) co-ordinates and manages the quarterly data collection, processing, storage, analysis, and reporting of GUMCAD data on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Data is:

All commissioned specialist (level 3) and non-specialist (level 2) sexual health services are required to complete and return GUMCAD data to UKHSA.

Further details on the development of GUMCAD are available in this article in Eurosurveillance. Details on the levels of sexual health service provision are available in the Standards for the management of STIs provided by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.

How to submit GUMCAD data

These documents provide details on the completion, extraction and secure transmission of GUMCAD data to UKHSA.

GUMCAD starter pack

GUMCAD clinical guidelines

GUMCAD data specification and technical guidance

GUMCAD and CTAD data submission for STI self-sampling services

When to submit GUMCAD data

Submission period Reporting deadline
January to March 2024 Friday 10 May 2024
April to June 2024 Friday 9 August 2024
July to September 2024 Friday 8 November 2024
October to December 2024 Friday 7 February 2025

How to access GUMCAD data

GUMCAD data is subject to strict data sharing principles that are given in the HIV and STI data sharing policy.

Information on STI tests, diagnoses and sexual health services provided in England are available in a variety of formats.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) annual data tables

These official statistics present information on STI diagnoses and sexual health services provided in England by demographic characteristics and geographical region.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles

These provide local area data on sexual health, reproductive health and HIV diagnoses and services through interactive maps and charts.

HIV and STI Data Exchange

These are restricted-access reports for monitoring local, regional and national sexual health trends. They are accessible to registered NHS and local authority users only. Reports available include:

  • local authority STI and HIV epidemiology reports
  • GUMCAD STI diagnoses and services reports
  • CTAD data quality reports
  • NCSP quarterly data tables
  • chlamydia re-testing following a positive diagnosis report

The principles for accessing and sharing GUMCAD data is given in the HIV and STI data sharing policy.

A wide array of information on sexual health, reproductive health and HIV is available from UKHSA and other organisations.

Sexual health, reproductive health and HIV in England

A guide to local and national data helps professionals including local government, service providers and commissioners understand the sexual health, reproductive health and HIV data available across England and how the data can be accessed.

GUMCAD data requests 

GUMCAD data can be requested by completing the GUMCAD data request form and sending this to gumcad@ukhsa.gov.uk 

Data requests will take at least 4 working weeks to complete (they may take longer during busy periods).

UKHSA sexual health and HIV privacy information 

The sexual health and HIV privacy information guidance explains the de-personalised data we collect, how we use it and how we protect this information. 

Contact information

For further information on GUMCAD or to request access to the HIV and STI Data Exchange, please contact the GUMCAD helpdesk at gumcad@ukhsa.gov.uk

Published 19 December 2013
Last updated 9 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated 'Submission and reporting deadlines', 'Data requests' sections and added 'UKHSA sexual health and HIV privacy information'.

  2. Updated data submission and reporting deadlines.

  3. Updated data submission and reporting deadlines.

  4. Updated data submission and reporting deadlines.

  5. Updated data submission and reporting deadlines.

  6. Updated information and links to GUMCAD guidance documents to meet enhanced surveillance requirements.

  7. First published.