Some hospitals and GP practices in England and Scotland are failing to carry out recommended HIV checks, a BBC investigation has found. Experts suggest patients in areas with high rates of HIV ought to be offered a test when they register with a GP or are admitted to hospital. But research carried out for BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme suggests many NHS providers are … [Read more...]
A&E’s routine HIV testing has helped identify dozens living undiagnosed
A London hospital that introduced routine HIV screening for emergency patients has helped diagnose dozens of people who were unaware they were living with HIV. Since July 2015, patients over the age of 16 who are already undergoing blood tests at St Thomas’ Hospital A&E are tested for HIV at the same time, unless they chose to opt out. During the first year of the … [Read more...]
PrEP HIV drugs: court hears NHS England appeal
NHS England is appealing high court ruling it has power to commission ‘game-changing’ prevention strategy A legal battle is being fought out in the court of appeal over who pays the bill for a service to block HIV infection. The high court ruled that NHS England has the power to commission PrEP, which has been described as a “game changer” in the fight against … [Read more...]
Scottish campaigners call for ‘immediate’ access to HIV prevention drug
7th August 2016 by Judith Duffy [Herald Scotland] Article Link Campaigners have called on the Scottish Government to follow the example of France and introduce a drug that can prevent HIV without waiting for it to be licensed. The drug, called Truvada, triggered headlines last week after the High Court told the NHS in England it should fund the treatment, despite health … [Read more...]
Give young people and gay men free condoms to reduce STIs, watchdog says
5 August 2016 by Sarah Boseley (Guardian) Link to Article Draft guidance from Nice says councils should consider schemes to provide free advice and condoms to halt rise in HIV and gonorrhoea Local authorities should run schemes to supply young people with free condoms and sex advice in an attempt to curtail the number of sexually transmitted infections, a health … [Read more...]