LAST Wednesday saw probably the last local authority sponsored HIV conference, ‘Positively Together’. Organised by the Sheffield Centre for sexual Health, the overwhelming mood of the event was of the need to be positive in the face of an uncertain future.

Unfortunately the headline speaker, Baroness Joyce Gould, was prevented from attending by illness, and so the conference was opened by Clive Skelton, the city’s sexual health champion, who argued for the benefits of his position whilst acknowledging that his uniqueness in English local government made it likely that it would not survive the oncoming changes and cuts.

The morning’s sessions were all keynote speeches, delivered by Dame Denise Platt, Sir Nick Partridge, and Dr. Christine Bowman, on the social care system, the healthcare system, and clinical progress and change respectively.

Both Dame Denise and Sir Nick focused on the radical changes being proposed by the new Coalition Government. Denise noted that the HIV/AIDS sector had itself emerged from a collection of community based organisations not unlike the vision for the future of social care and service provision being promoted by the Prime Minister. She noted that despite the axing of the AIDS Support Grant, NAT had been successful in securing named allocations for monies given to local government, and called upon HIV/AIDS organisations to ensure that they hold local government to account for spending the allocations on HIV/AIDS services.

Nick outlined the Government’s proposals for reforming the healthcare, and especially its focus on ‘geographical localism’, and the commissioning of healthcare services by GP consortia. Regard GP commissioning, Nick argued that the proposals create difficulties for HIV services, as they give no role for GP consortia in commissioning HIV services, despite the need for HIV services to be better embedded in primary care. He also noted that little coverage had been given to the Government’s Public Health proposals, although it contained a number of proposals that will impact on HIV prevention agencies such a THT, which is currently making £5m of cuts to reflect a 12% loss of income from government contracts.

Christine Bowman provided a more upbeat note, as she detailed the progress that had been made in stabilising people living with HIV, including reducing mother to child transmission, whilst also noting that this highlighted the difference in outcomes for those individuals who present late, and usually with extremely compromised immune systems and opportune illnesses. She also noted that antenatal HIV testing by midwives had proved to be successful, and argued that it should serve as a prototype for introducing HIV testing across the healthcare system.

Following a series of workshops, covering issues such as ‘HIV and stigma’, ‘the role of the voluntary sector’, and ‘Positive Living’, the conference returned to plenary session, with addresses given by Silvia Petretti of Positively UK on the needs and rights of PLWHIV, Mark Pitts of Sheffield City Council on the AIDS support grant, and closed with a barnstorming presentation by Barbara Allen, a GP from Manchester about how her practice works actively with HIV positive patients to enable them to manage their health.

Overall the conference was an interesting mix of pessimism, optimism, and uncertainty about the future. On the evidence of this conference, whether the Government’s reforms across health and social care will improve the lives of people living with HIV, aware or unaware of their status, seems to leave most people feeling very much the same.

Presentations from the conference are available at: http://www.sexualhealthsheffield.nhs.uk/news/6-3-positivelytogether.php

TWO STUDIES unveiled at the International AIDS conference in Vienna reveal a harsh reality for an aging HIV population and the dangers of late diagnosis.

In a report published online in the journal AIDS* – Health Protection Agency (HPA) scientists found that UK diagnosis of HIV have more than doubled in the over 50s in recent years.

‘50 PLUS’ a study presented by the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) found that people living with HIV over 50 can expect to live longer, but will be poorer, fear isolation and care homes and be twice as likely to experience other long-term health conditions such as: high blood pressure, kidney and liver problems or arthritis.

Lisa Power, Head of Policy at THT said: “As a result of effective treatment options, and our ageing population the over 50s are now the fastest growing group of people with HIV in the UK, and there’s a long way to go regarding support for this group.”

The THT study undertaken in conjunction with Age UK and The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that two thirds of those who took part where having treatment for another serious health conditions other than HIV.

People over 50 with HIV told the THT, good quality health and treatment information was their highest priority. However,  three quarters had fears about needing health and social care in the future.

One interviewee said: “I also fear that, in case I need to be cared for, the carer would be as ill-informed and prejudiced about HIV as the rest of the general public.”

HIV-positive people over 50 are also more likely to be financially disadvantaged in comparison to a person without the virus. They are less likely to be working or own their own home, or have a financial cushion for retirement, and more likely to live in social or private rented housing, says the report.

“Since I was diagnosed in 1985 I regarded this as a death warrant and ceased to make any pension provisions,” another respondent told researchers at the THT.

“Older people with HIV are living with high levels of uncertainty about their future health and social care and need substantially more support than their peers,” added Lisa Power.

Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at the HPA said: “Although adults aged 50 and over account for just eight percent of all new HIV diagnoses, the fact that cases have more than doubled in recent years serves as a timely reminder that anybody is at risk of HIV infection if they do not use protection and practice safe sex.

“HIV remains a serious infection particularly when diagnosed late.”

The THT report clearly shows the problems a HIV-positive person  faces in later life, such as financial pressures, deteriorating health and isolation. All exacerbated by the impact of HIV on thier life.

“Now people are living far longer with HIV than ever before, we need to shift the focus on support services to improving quality of life.

“To achieve this, it is vital that we increase awareness and understanding of the needs of this group across a range of health, social care, housing and advice services,” Said Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK.

The THT study had 410 responses to its online survey and conducted 40 in-depth interviews across the UK with people living with HIV over 50. The full results of the study, including all the data tables, will be published in the autumn. www.tht.org.uk

According to the latest figures from the HPA 8255 older adults accessed HIV care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007.

Ends

Click here to download a copy of the THT finding.

HIV infection rates up 60% in over 50s AIDS*

Crusaid, one the UK’s best loved HIV/Aids charities and the Terrence Higgins Trust have announced a merger.

Details as to why the merger was necessary and the future of Crusaid’s 15 staff are still unclear.

In a statement to thirdsector.co.uk Debbie Holmes THT’s executive director of fundraising said: “We have been open that we can’t guarantee that everyone will retain their jobs for the long-term.”

Jordan Hay , CEO of Crusaid said “We initiated this merger to ensure that our hardship fund can continue to make a vital difference to the ever-increasing numbers of people diagnosed with HIV each year in the UK.

“THT shares our vision and values and we are excited about the opportunities to support people with HIV that this merger presents.”

Crusaid independently administered the hardship fund since 1986 and has awarded over 45,000 grants: helping  one in three people living with HIV and raised 33million in the fight against HIV/Aids.

In 2008-09 the Crusaid hardship fund distributed £381,385 to 2,106 people in England Wales and N Ireland and a further 69,829 in Scotland through Waverley Care.

Over the same period the organisation saw its income drop to £1.63 million compared to £1.93 million in the previous year. But with outgoings at 1.77 million, questions may be raised to the why the overheads of the charity were not brought into check.

The organisation had experienced a 15 per cent drop in income over the last two years due to the economic downturn: ultimately bringing to an end Crusaid as independent force.

The survival of ‘Walk For Life’- Crusaid’s premier fundraising event – will be viewed by many HIV organisations as vital: the 2008 walk had 35 teams participating raising £41,430 towards their own work.

In a recent interview in pinkpaper.com Deborah Jack, CEO of the National Aids Trust said: “My main concern is that we’ve lost a charity solely focused with HIV into an organisation which covers all aspects of sexual health. Crusaid always supported those in the greatest need.

“I am, however, pleased THT have made a public commitment to continue the hardship fund which provides a valuable lifeline for  people living in poverty with HIV.”

Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of THT said: “The merger will preserve the Crusaid Hardship Fund in a very challenging economic climate and help ensure that people with HIV have the ongoing support that they so vitally need.

“We are also looking forward to combining our experience and research for a renewed anti-poverty strategy in support of people living with HIV in the UK.”

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