Changes to the way HIV services are organised could endanger health of patients and workers
Changes to the way HIV care is organised within the NHS could harm both HIV patients and their carers, a leading HIV charity has warned.
A shake-up has seen the separation of HIV care from broader genitourinary medicine; with sexual healthcare now coming under the remit of local authorities and HIV care remaining within the NHS.
The British HIV Association (BHIVA) warns that this could result in a lack of resources and fewer staff, putting both patients and, potentially, health workers at risk.
BHIVA found that a third of the 100 HIV specialists it polled believed that care for HIV-positive patients had deteriorated since the reorganisation in April, while two-thirds feared it could get even worse.
Tom Jones, head of policy at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “Anything that threatens to downgrade HIV care is a huge concern, both in terms of protecting health workers and reducing the prejudice surrounding those who carry the virus.
“We urge health ministers to look again at how HIV care is organised, to ensure properly ‘joined-up’ care that best serves the needs of both patients and staff.”
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