The Sussex Beacon’s CEO, Rachel Brett, recently attended a parliamentary event hosted by HIV Outcomes UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV & Sexual Health.
The event was held to launch National AIDS Trust’s report, ‘HIV services at the crossroads: the role of the voluntary sector and needs of communities’. The report highlights the vital role of support services for people living with HIV, but it warns that cuts to funding could jeopardise progress towards the 2030 goals.
Drawing on evidence taken from HIV-focused organisations and people living with HIV, the report identified:
• Two thirds of these organisation reported having to either reduce staff numbers, close services, merge with other organisations or use cash reserves to cover operating costs in the last three years
• Only three out of 50 organisations that they have been completely able to meet demand over the last five years
• There are stark inequalities in access to HIV support across the UK. People living outside major cities often face a postcode lottery in services, with many rural areas lacking any local provision
• Four in five people living with HIV surveyed reported improved wellbeing after accessing these services
With case studies from charities and people that have used their services, the report makes a powerful case for investing in these crucial services. The report sets out a series of urgent, actionable recommendations for governments across the UK, commissioners, and key decision-makers, including:
• Renewed partnerships between UK Governments and the voluntary sector for the delivery of HIV Action Plans
• Multi-year funding agreements that cover core costs to ensure the sustainability of essential HIV services
• A national guarantee of access to high-quality psychosocial and peer support
• Comprehensive re-engagement programmes to support people who have fallen out of care and reduce preventable ill health
• Expanded investment in voluntary sector-led HIV prevention, testing and anti-stigma initiatives Read more at https://nat.org.uk/publications/hiv-services-voluntary-sector-crossroads-crisis-report .