Previous reference: Council, Minute 107 (2015/2016)

At the full Council meeting on 19 January 2016 the Director of Public Health was asked to provide a report outlining what needs to be done locally in commissioning and provision of services in order to halve late diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV by 2020 including prevention and educational interventions to ensure the sustainability of any reductions achieved.

The Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing will submit Document “V” in response to the above.

Recommended –

That the contents of the report be noted and partnership working across the District to halve late diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV by 2020 be supported.

(Ralph Saunders – 01274 434782)

Previous reference: Council, Minute 107 (2015/2016)

At the full Council meeting on 19 January 2016 the Director of Public Health was asked to provide a report outlining what needs to be done locally in commissioning and provision of services in order to halve late diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV by 2020 including prevention and educational interventions to ensure the sustainability of any reductions achieved.

The Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing submitted Document “V” in response to the above.  The Head of Public Health, Health Improvement Specialist, Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine (Bradford Teaching Hospitals) and Chief Executive of Yorkshire MESMAC (a sexual health organisation) attended to present the report.

A presentation was provided outlining what HIV was, the national picture, the support and treatment available for people diagnosed with the virus, the increased risks associated with a late diagnosis, the work undertaken by Yorkshire MESMAC and the need to reduce HIV stigma. 

During the presentation Members were informed that, in Bradford, there had been 36 HIV diagnoses, of which 17 were late (8 female and 9 male), from January 2014 to June 2016.  In 2015, 385 people were living with a diagnosis of HIV in Bradford.  The prevalence rate for Bradford (1.24 per 1000 population of 15 to 59 year olds) was the fifth highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region but was lower than the average for England (2.26 per 1000).

The Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine informed Members that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) was a way for people who did not have HIV but who were at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. She stated whilst there was controversy surrounding the cost and use of this drug, she considered it to be highly effective in the prevention of HIV.

In response to Members’ questions, it was reported that:

·         Late diagnoses and the testing of anonymous samples showed evidence of people living with HIV who did not know they had it.

·         The HIV services at Yorkshire MESMAC were open to everyone with the virus.

·         ‘Proportionate universalism’ was deployed in resourcing and delivering services to respond to the level of presenting need.

·         The authority had a target to engage with eight schools in raising awareness of HIV but currently were only working with four.

·         HIV awareness and testing was provided as part of other sexual health outreach work e.g. on the HALE (Health Action Local Engagement) bus.

·         The Health and Social Care Act 2012 had changed the commissioning and monitoring of HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services and this was why the testing and treatment of HIV was in two different locations in the district.  Efforts had been made to relocate the services to one venue but this had not yet been achieved.

·         Yorkshire MESMAC was expecting to receive the same level of funding from the local authority next year as it had received for the current year.  It had also received funding from HIV Prevention England to undertake outreach work with African communities in Bradford to promote HIV testing.

·         It was a patients choice to receive treatment out of the district.

Service users of Yorkshire MESMAC were in attendance at the meeting and spoke highly of the support they had received from the organisation.  They spoke of not feeling judged and of all service users being from a diverse range of backgrounds.  The service was considered a lifeline.

Members discussed the engagement with schools and school nurses in raising awareness of HIV with young people.

Members spoke of the need for increased campaigning to wider audiences in order to reduce the stigma of HIV and encourage people to get tested. 

Councillor Dunbar was in attendance at the meeting and addressed the Committee to welcome the scrutiny of this issue which showed the Council’s commitment to reducing the number of late diagnoses.  He thanked the service users for their attendance and stated that he supported the use of PrEP, which was clinically proven to be 86% effective.

It was agreed that regular updates would be provided to the Chair and the Committee would continue to monitor the issue through reports it received on the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Resolved –

(1)  That service providers and service users be thanked for attending the meeting.

(2)  That further updates be provided through the Chair.

ACTION: Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing