New programme to commission HIV services in London

A new three-year programme for HIV prevention in London has been backed by leaders of all 33 London boroughs.

Members of London Councils’ Leaders committee agreed yesterday (Tuesday November 12) that a limited number of key HIV prevention services aimed at gay men and African communities, including condom distribution and some outreach work, will be delivered on a London-wide basis from next year. They have allocated up to £3.4million from public health budgets to set up and run the programme until 2017.

The decision follows a needs assessment, commissioned by London Councils, which brought together the latest evidence on what works in HIV prevention, including the views of service users.

London boroughs account for 18 out of 20 local authorities with the highest diagnosed prevalence rate of HIV in the country.  New diagnoses of HIV rose by eight per cent in London from 2,615 in 2011 to 2,832 in 2012, reversing a downward trend since 2003.

Since taking over responsibility for public health in April, boroughs have spent at least £5million, individually and in small collective groups, on commissioning a wide range of services tailored to local communities. The London-wide programme will sit alongside and complement these locally-commissioned projects.

Cllr Teresa O’Neill, London Councils’ Executive member for health, said: “It is alarming to see such a sharp rise in HIV diagnoses, but London boroughs have been quick to act.

“We commissioned a needs assessment in order to find out more about what was happening, which groups were involved and what services worked best.

“Local authorities are well-placed to prevent the spread of HIV as they can commission services on a local level, tailored to the needs of their communities and links them into other services.

“However, we have recognised that there are some cases where it is more effective to work together on a London-wide basis.

“Our aim is to increase sexual health awareness and end the spread of this chronic illness that blights the lives of thousands, through cost-effective, targeted and well managed services.”

Dr Yvonne Doyle, London regional director for Public Health England, added:  “HIV continues to be a major public health problem in London and this is an unprecedented opportunity for leaders in the city to change the direction of this complex epidemic. 

“HIV does not respect geographical boundaries and this new London-wide approach in certain areas to tackle the infection could add great value to existing local initiatives.

“Men who have sex with men and black African heterosexuals remain the groups with the highest HIV prevalence in London and it is important that there are cohesive and collaborative services across the city to support them.

“Reaching people most at risk of contracting HIV, promoting messages about HIV prevention, ensuring easy access to testing with seamless transition to high quality care for people who test HIV positive, coupled with services that foster positive attitudes, increase knowledge and encourage healthy behaviours, are all key features of an effective HIV prevention programme.”

Paul Ward, Acting Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We are delighted that London Councils have committed to fund a new pan-London HIV prevention programme, which we have argued the need for. We know there are at least ten thousand people with undiagnosed HIV in London currently. That is ten thousand too many. London needs a city-wide plan to stop the spread of HIV and this decision to fund coordinated action provides a much-needed boost to the effort to bring HIV in the capital under control.”