THEGAYUK

Tag: HIV

Read the latest news and analysis of HIV in the UK and abroad. Browse THEGAYUK’s entire archive on news about HIV.

  • Legal Breakthrough for PrEP in England

    Historic win for NAT as the High Court overturns NHS England refusal to consider PrEP

    PrEP

    NAT (National AIDS Trust) is delighted by the judgment passed down in the High Court today that NHS England acted unlawfully in withdrawing PrEP, a game-changing drug preventing transmission of HIV, from its decision-making process.

    When, after 18 months of preparation, NHS England suddenly abandoned its work on PrEP, NAT considered it had no option but to challenge this through judicial review.  Today the court heard that NHS England’s interpretation of the law was incorrect.

    PrEP is urgently needed and has been shown to be cost-effective. NAT has always believed that there is no legal impediment to PrEP being commissioned by NHS England and the court agrees.
    Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT, said,

    “This is fantastic news. It is vindication for the many people who were let down when NHS England absolved itself of responsibility for PrEP.  The judgment has confirmed our view – that it is perfectly lawful for NHS England to commission PrEP.  Now NHS England must do just that.

    Over 4,000 people are getting HIV every year in the UK – we desperately need further prevention options to add to condom use.  PrEP works.  It saves money and it will make an enormous difference to the lives of men and women across the country who are at risk of acquiring HIV.  The delay to commissioning PrEP is both unethical and expensive.”

    In his judgement Mr Justice Green wrote,

    ‘No one doubts that preventative medicine makes powerful sense. But one governmental body says it has no power to provide the service and the local authorities say that they have no money.  The Clamant is caught between the two and the potential victims of this disagreement are those who will contract HIV/AIDs but who would not were the preventative policy to be fully implemented.’

     

    He goes on to conclude that in all the possible scenarios that were explored in the judicial review, NHS England does have the power to commission PrEP.

    It is enormously disappointing that NHS England has decided to appeal this judgment, especially given the wide ranging and well-reasoned arguments it contains. The appeal will further delay clarity in this area, and mean that any potential commissioning of PrEP will not take place for months.

    Following this decision, there will now be a 30-day public consultation on PrEP, which should start almost immediately, and an NHS England committee will consider the case for commissioning it, but final announcements and actual commissioning will be contingent on the outcome of the appeal.

  • LEGAL ADVICE | My ex-employer is telling old co-workers that I have HIV

    A concerned reader asks what his rights are since learning that his ex-employers are telling co-workers about his HIV status. Sarah Nolan, Head of Commercial & Employment Law at QualitySolicitors Jackson Canter answers.

    people at work
    CREDIT: ©-monkeybusiness-Depositphotos

     

    Dear Legal Team,

    I had to leave my job after I disclosed that I am HIV+. When I was first diagnosed I had to take extended time off from work to go to the doctors, because I was at first very ill.

    My line manager asked me why I was taking so much time off and I revealed my status. All was okay, but after two months – I was starting to get uncomfortable with comments that were being made by my line manager and the boss – who she disclosed my health info to.

     The “banter” turned quite nasty and it was ruining my life – and making my health worse. I decided to resign and we resolved the issues through ACAS – as a consequence I signed sort of gag order – which forbids me from talking to anyone about this… but now, after a few years – I had a text out of the blue from an ex-colleague who said that he knew I was HIV positive – the only people who knew my status were my line manager and the area boss.

     I did not disclose my status to anyone else and it looks as though my former employers have leaked my details. I’m wondering what I can do to make sure my health remains personal – and whether I should reopen my case with ACAS. I’ve tried emailing the company to discuss the text – and haven’t heard anything back from them – after two months.

     Best wishes

    (name withheld)

     

     

    Hi,

    Your question seems to involve the Data Protection Act 1988.

    The Data Protection Act 1998 is concerned with respecting the rights of individuals when processing their personal information. The act is mandatory and all organisations that hold or process personal data must comply its provisions.

    The Data Protection Act contains 8 principles:

    • personal data should be processed fairly and lawfully
    • data should be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes
    • the data should be adequate, relevant and not excessive
    • it should be accurate and where necessary kept up to date
    • any data should not be kept for longer than necessary
    • personal data should be processed in accordance with the individuals’ rights under the act
    • data should be kept secure
    • personal data should not be transferred outside the European Economic Areas unless the country offers adequate data protection.

    All employers have responsibilities under the Act to ensure that their activities comply with the Data Protection Act. Employers are responsible for the type of personal data they collect and how they use it and they should not disclose personal data outside the organisation’s procedures, or use personal data held on others for their own purposes. ACAS provide some helpful guidance about this on their website (acas.org.uk).

    Employees have a legal right to access information that an employer may hold on them. This would include any personal information relating to your health. There is a 40 day time frame stipulated for dealing with any such requests.

    If you feel your old organisation has misused information or hasn’t kept it secure then contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

    If you believe that the terms of the settlement reached with your former employer via ACAS have been breached then you should seek specialist legal advice in this regard or try to re-contact ACAS without delay.

     

    ALSO READ: I have heard my employer can dismiss me for being transgender – is this true?

    ALSO READ: Can a Landlord chuck me out if I’m LGBT?

     

    Have you got a legal query you’d like to ask our experts? Get your free advice here. Submit your question here

    Written by Sarah Nolan – Head of Commercial & Employment Law at QualitySolicitors Jackson Canter

    This response is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice, and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to particular circumstances. Individuals should always seek legal advice from a professional which is specific to their unique set of circumstances.

  • Prince Harry awareness campaign boosts HIV self tests

    Prince Harry awareness campaign boosts HIV self tests

    Prince Harry’s HIV awareness campaign has led to a spike in ordering at-home HIV self tests.

    CREDIT: Facebook Live

     

    Prince Harry‘s campaign to create awareness on the importance of HIV testing has led to a dramatic increase in at-home HIV self test kits ordered from one of the UK’s leading HIV charities, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).

    The Prince made global news when he took a HIV test live on Facebook’s Live Platform.

    THT launched an innovative pilot offering people the chance to find out their HIV status privately – in their own space, in their own time, on their terms – by taking a HIV self test and getting their results in just 15 minutes.

    Over 4750 BioSure kits were sent out by THT before the pilot ended.

     

    Making HIV Tests Accessible

    Dr Michael Brady, Medical Director for Terrence Higgins Trust, said,

    “We know that one in six people living with HIV do not know that they have it. Testing puts you in control and, thanks to treatment, will stop you from getting seriously ill, enable you to live a normal lifespan and prevent you from passing the virus on to anyone else.

    “That’s why it’s so important that we continue looking for new ways to make HIV testing more accessible to those most at risk, and why it’s fantastic to see the very tangible and immediate impact of Prince Harry’s support for HIV testing.”

     

    Orders for the kits came in from across the UK, including Guernsey,  Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, with the average age of those ordering coming in at 31-years-old.

     

    BioSure Self HIV Test

     

    ALSO READ: At home HIV test reviewed by our Editor

     

    Sharing Results.

    Half of those who ordered kits from the pilot scheme shared their results with THT, twenty-six of those who order the kits told the charity that they had a positive result. Each of these respondents got a personal call from Terrence Higgins Trust to discuss their result, provide support and ensure that they know how to access HIV care.

    Chris, who ordered a kit said,

    “The HIV home tests came within a few days and I had my results no longer than 30 minutes after opening the package. The instructions were clear and understandable, with the online step-by-step video explaining even further. Nothing at all could be misunderstood.”

    The tests, which are normally £29.95 to buy from BioSure, were provided free of charge during the pilot and funded by Terrence Higgins Trust, but people receiving a test were given the option of making a voluntary donation to fund a test for someone else.

    The scheme was made possible thanks to funding from the Terrence Higgins Trust Lighthouse Fund and BioSure.

    You can now order self testing kits from Amazon.

  • This African government want to ban lube to stop gay sex

    The government of Tanzania apparently wants to stop gay sex, so it’s banning lube.

     

    Tanzanian health officials have banned the import of sexual lubricants in a move to crack-down on anal sex, directly targeting the gay and bisexual male community.

    Gay sexual relations are illegal in Tanzania with those found guilty handed life imprisonment sentences. However no arrests have been known to have been made in recent years.

    According to News24.com, Health Minister for the East African country Ummy Mwalimu said,

    “It is true that the government has banned the importation and use of the jelly to curb the spread of HIV,”

    “It is estimated that 23 percent of men who have sex with men in Tanzania are living with HIV/AIDS,”

    “I have instructed stakeholders working with gay people to remove the products from the market.”

    Up until recently the gay and bisexual community were being handed out lube for free as part of a health campaign by advocacy and health groups working with the community. However the ministry now wants to use the money spent on lube “for beds for the maternity wards.”

    It is recommended by healthcare professionals that lube always be used when having anal sex, regardless if the sex is being same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples.

    Waterbased or silicon lubes are recommended with condom usage, one of the most effective ways of combatting HIV infections – as oil based lubricants such as Crisco or even cooking oil can break or weaken a condom.

     

  • ADVICE | Does PrEP stop you getting HIV? Where can I get it from?

    This week a reader asks about PrEP, what it does, where to get it and if it’s available on the NHS.

    Does PrEP stop you getting HIV? Where can I get it from?

    Pharmacy2U’s Clinical Governance Pharmacist Phil Day answers the PrEP question.

     

    Dear TGUK

    I’ve heard that there’s a drug that can stop me from getting HIV – Where can I get this? Is it available on the NHS?
     
    I’ve been using condoms but sometimes it can really kill the moment. I wanted to know if there’s an easier way to protect myself.

    Tom

     

    Dear Tom,

    While advances in medicine mean that most people living with HIV are now unlikely to contract AIDS, you should still always wear a condom. They also provide protection against a number of other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

    In fact, there’s been a rise in sexually transmitted diseases for the first time in decades because many people are ignoring advice on wearing a condom.

    Have you tried experimenting with some different rubbers and lubes? There’s a vast choice and manufacturers have invested millions into making condoms that can actually enhance your fun as well as protect you.  If you’re shy, there’s a great range online as well as in the shops.

    You can always put a condom on in advance if you think you’re going to have sex so that it doesn’t interrupt proceedings, or make it part of the sex session by putting them on each other. It’s also wise to use them if you’re just sticking to oral sex.

    But to answer your question on Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, it is a drug treatment protocol using a prescription medicine called Truvada, and has been shown in a recent trial to be highly effective in preventing HIV in gay and bisexual men, when taken daily and used in combination with other infection prevention measures.

    Truvada contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) and is already routinely used in combination with other medicines to treat existing HIV infection.

    The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Truvada’s use by people at very high risk of HIV infection. Despite trials of Truvada in a number of cities, the NHS is not currently planning to make PrEP available on prescription in the UK, leading to anger and frustration among campaigners.

    Truvada is available from a small number of private clinics in the UK and is expensive. People should only ever take medicines prescribed by a UK-registered GP and dispensed by a UK-registered pharmacy.

    Did you know you can order an at-home HIV test online?  Click here to buy one

     

    The advice given in this article is for guidance only and you should always seek your own independent, professional medical advice from your own GP if you are concerned about your health.  

    OTHER QUESTIONS: HIV | WILLY WONDERS | HOLES | DOING IT | STIs | LUMPS & BUMPS | BACK TO SEX CLINIC HOME PAGE

    Got a problem you’d like advice on?

  • Prince Harry takes HIV test live on social media

    Prince Harry takes HIV test live on social media

    Prince Harry has made history by becoming the first member of the Royal family to take a HIV test on Facebook live.

    Credit: Masha Maltsava, Milk Studios / Via Flickr

    Prince Harry has become the first Royal to publicly take a HIV test live on Facebook, using the platform’s “live” service.

    The popular Prince visited London’s Guys and St. Thomas’ hospital to have the pin-prick HIV test, which reveals a person’s HIV status within minutes.

    The video has already clocked up 41,000 views.

    Leading HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust praised the Prince’s openness and awareness campaign.

    Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said,

    “Prince Harry’s decision to take an HIV test, live on social media, is a groundbreaking moment in the fight against HIV.

    “Not only does it show His Royal Highness’s genuine and personal commitment to tackling the HIV epidemic, it will amplify a message to millions all over the world: testing for HIV is easy, quick and nothing to be feared.

    “We have a real opportunity to end HIV transmissions in the UK, but it starts with each person knowing their HIV status. Too many people are either put off testing by the stigma that still surrounds HIV, or simply do not think HIV is an issue anymore. Today, Prince Harry has got people talking about HIV again and has normalised HIV testing to a global audience. In doing so, he could inspire a generation to take control of their sexual health.

    “Thanks to treatment, testing for HIV could stop you from getting seriously ill, enable you to live a normal lifespan and prevent you from passing the virus on to anyone else. That’s why it’s so invaluable to have Prince Harry’s support  as we aim to bust stigma and end the HIV epidemic.”

  • Service helping people living with HIV get back into work relaunched

    The Terrence Higgins Trust has relaunched its Work Positive campaign which aims to help people living with HIV back into work.

    CREDIT: ©-monkeybusiness-Depositphotos
    CREDIT: ©-monkeybusiness-Depositphotos

     

    The UK’s biggest HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust has relaunched a service that aims to help people living with HIV in London, Essex, Brighton, Shrewsbury and Cambridge to get back to work.

    According to the charity, 25 per cent of people with HIV are out of work, and the Positive programme aims to provide work experience, mentoring, peer support, employment coaching and training for people with HIV who have been unemployed for two years.

    With funding from the Big Lottery Fund the service will relaunch for the sixth year. It is accepting application until 7th August

    Micael, who completed Work Positive last year, said,

    “I’d tried other back to work schemes before but I wasn’t getting anywhere and when I left for the day the support stopped, but with Work Positive I was made to feel like a real person, who could contribute to society.

    “Ruth gave me the opportunity to get out and get work, but the programme also gave me the wider support I needed to live a happy and healthy life, like helping me eat well – and on the morning of my graduation I was offered a paid job!”

    Ruth Burns, Work Positive co-ordinator at Terrence Higgins Trust, says,

    “The Work Positive Programme has gone from strength to strength over the last six years. Every year we see our participants transform into confident professionals who are a real asset to the workplace.

    “We want this year’s scheme to be just as successful, and we encourage anyone with HIV who feels they need a boost onto the career ladder to apply.”

  • Stephen Fry and Doctor Christian blast NHS England on PrEP decision

    Celebrities and activists have condemned this week’s announcement from NHS England that it will not fund PrEP, a pill that is almost 100% effective in preventing HIV.

    © Jean_Nelson Depositphotos

    Stephen Fry led the movement of celebrities rallying for PrEP to be made available to those at risk of HIV.

    Stephen, a patron of Terrence Higgins Trust, said:

    “I have been a supporter of HIV charities for 35 years and seen remarkable medical and social breakthroughs in treating infection and stigma. But I never imagined I would be alive to see the day when a pill was created that could actually prevent HIV.

    “It is remarkable and thrilling to witness so tremendous an achievement, but deeply frustrating in equal measure to discover that our national health service has pointedly refused to provide it to people at significant risk of infection from HIV.

    “Surely this must be challenged: if not in the name of humanity then in the name of economy and plain common sense.”

    His sentiments were echoed by Dr Christian Jessen, an ambassador for National HIV Testing Week, who said,

     “I was shocked and saddened to see NHS England’s refusal to fund PrEP, following months of campaigning by HIV organisations and activists.

    “As a doctor, this makes no sense to me. There should be no ‘controversy’ – this is a drug that works, it will halt HIV, and it is cost-effective. Condom use has prevented tens of thousands of HIV infections and remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention, but it’s not enough on its own. PrEP could have been the last piece of the puzzle.”

    Christian Jessen (C) Monty McKinnen
    Christian Jessen (C) Monty McKinnen

    The UK now has the worst HIV epidemic of any large country in western Europe, having overtaken Spain, France and Portugal. Every day, seven men who have sex with men get HIV.

    The HIV sector has been united in its outrage following NHS England’s announcement on Tuesday. In an unprecedented move, the UK’s HIV charities and organisations have now joined forces and announced they will march together at London Pride on 25th June for the first time in Pride history, under the banner of #United4PrEP.

    In a letter to The Times, the coalition of over 20 HIV organisations called the decision “a dark day for the NHS.”

    The letter was signed by National AIDS Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, Gay Men Fighting AIDS, British HIV Association and many more.
    They said,

    “Our Government seems to have no idea who is responsible for funding the drug that could help end the HIV epidemic, with departments passing the buck and no-one taking charge. The broader implications of that chaos should worry everyone.”

    Rather than making PrEP available to high-risk groups, the NHS has agreed to provide PrEP to just 500 gay and bisexual men.

    “The tokenistic offer to provide PrEP to 500 gay men over two years is arbitrary and inadequate,” continued the letter in the Times.

    “It won’t scratch the surface when 2,500 gay men get HIV each year, let alone other groups such as trans women and black Africans.”

    Other celebrities joining the outcry have included Coronation Street actor Charlie Condou, who said:

    “Anything that can stop people getting HIV can only be a good thing, and that’s why I was so disappointed that the NHS has refused to fund PrEP. Despite what lots of people think, HIV hasn’t gone away. It’s an incurable health condition affecting thousands of people – and I believe that if there’s a way of stopping it in its tracks, our health service should be grabbing that opportunity, not letting it go to waste.

    “I understand it costs money to provide PrEP, but in the long term, it will be cheaper for the NHS to prevent at-risk people from getting HIV than to fund a lifetime of treatment for them.”

    Sir Elton John has previously voiced his support for PrEP. Writing in the New York Times in 2014, he said,

    “Many view the drug Truvada — often used in pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP — as a miracle drug that will end AIDS. I share in this excitement, and have great hope for PrEP — and praise for leaders who advocate its wider use.”

    The Prime Minister David Cameron has publicly spoken out about the benefits of PrEP, saying,

    “There’s no doubt there is a rising rate of [HIV] infection. These treatments can help and make a difference.”

     

    Now HIV activists and organisations are calling on him to show leadership and see this game-changing drug provided to those most at risk.

    This article was written by Terrence Higgins Trust but was edited to meet THEGAYUK’s style guide.

  • NHS “Washed Its Hands” On Providing PrEP For Gay And Bisexual Community

    NHS England has come under intense criticism after it announced it was removing the anti-HIV drug known as PrEP from the official commissioning process.

    CREDIT: tashatuvango-bigstock

     CREDIT: tashatuvango-bigstock

    NHS England is facing a backlash from sexual health groups and HIV charities after it confirmed its decision to remove PrEP from the official NHS commissioning process, meaning that the anti-HIV drug will be inaccessible to people at risk of HIV.

    Both the National AIDS Trust (NAT) and the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) blasted the decision. With the NAT saying it was considering further legal action against NHS England.

    PrEP is an HIV prevention drug, proven to be effective in stopping HIV transmission in almost every case if taken properly. The decision by NHS England not even to consider commissioning PrEP came after 18 months of hard work from an NHS working group (comprising clinicians and experts from across the HIV sector) which demonstrated the need, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of PrEP.

    Deborah Gold, Chief Executive, NAT, said,

    “NHS England is sitting on something that could be the beginning of the end for the HIV epidemic – if only it were made available.  The refusal to commission it for all those at significant risk is astonishing.   Seventeen people are being diagnosed with HIV every day. Weare extremely disappointed and we will now be looking at our options, including further legal action.”

    Terrence Higgins Trust called the decision “shameful” and said that NHS England had “washed its hands” of one of the most stunning breakthroughs in HIV prevention which disproportionately affects the gay and bisexual community in the UK.

    Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said,

    “Today is a shameful day for HIV prevention. This country used to lead the way in the fight against the HIV epidemic, but today, our national health service has washed its hands of one of the most stunning breakthroughs we’ve seen; a pill which, if taken correctly, is almost 100% effective in preventing HIV.  A pill which is already available in America, Canada, France, Kenya and soon to be Australia.

    “How did it come to this? It defies belief that, after 18 months of false hope, delays and u-turns in the battle to see PrEP made available on the NHS to people at high risk of HIV, today we are in a worse position than when we started.

    “It is a mess, and the people who will feel the effects are the 2,500 men who have sex with men who will be needlessly infected with HIV each year in the UK. This figure has not changed in a decade. Who will claim responsibility for the life-long impact this will have on people’s lives?

    “It’s not right that people who know themselves to be at high risk of HIV have to buy PrEP themselves from the internet at considerable personal expense. Many high risk people are living in poverty and they simply cannot afford to protect themselves against HIV. Currently, only those who can afford it are able to access this life-changing treatment, further widening the inequality gap by those most affected by HIV.

    “The battle for PrEP must continue until the day that people at highest risk have access to this groundbreaking pill that will protect them from HIV.”

  • NHS Will Now Reconsider PrEP After Legal Threat From AIDs Charity

    The NHS in England has said it will now reconsider its position on PrEP prescription for gay men and other high risk groups after a legal threat from leading AIDs charity, the National AIDS Trust (NAT).

    (more…)

  • Welsh Lib Dems Call For PrEP To Become Available On NHS

    Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott has suggested that PrEP should be made available on the NHS for people most at risk of contracting HIV.

    Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a drug, which if taken as per a healthcare professional’s advice is incredibly successful at halting new HIV infections. Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott has called for the Welsh Government to take steps to ensure that the drugs are made available to people who are most at risk of contracting HIV.

    Recent results show that gay and bisexual men are still one of the highest at risk groups – with over 6500 in the UK unaware that they are HIV positive are at risk of spreading HIV even further.

     

    In 2014 the number of gay or bisexual men in the UK who were diagnosed rose by a further 110 new cases to 3360.

     

    Eluned Parrott AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales Central, said:

     

    “Over the last 20 years huge steps have been taken forward in helping people with an HIV infection to manage their condition. While this is a way from a cure yet, it still represents huge progress.

    “However prevention of HIV infection is now possible thanks to the development of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). A tablet a day can prevent people who are at risk of being exposed to the HIV virus from contracting HIV. This is a massive step forward, and yet three years after the Federal Drug Administration in the USA approved PrEP for use, it still isn’t available in Wales.

    “People who have partners with the HIV virus and other high risk groups should be offered this treatment as a matter of urgency, not only for their own health and wellbeing but also to help reduce the prevalence of HIV in the population as a whole. Perhaps one day, HIV could even be eliminated.

    “I call on the Welsh and UK governments to work together to ensure those who need it most are aware of this treatment and have access to it.”