London HIV charity Positively UK could close over funding crisis
According to the National Aids Trust, 2023 was the highest year for people receiving HIV care, with 107,949 treated - an increase of 27% across the last 10 years.Ms Petretti said: "HIV is not over. We have treatment for HIV, but we don't have a treatment for stigma yet.""Positively UK has existed since the 1980s," she added. "We're going to be 40 next year and I am worried that our services may not be there for people in the future because of the lack of funding."We finished the year in the deficit and one of the most important services for us, the gay men's project, had to stop. In the past two years we applied to nine different funds and we couldn't secure any funding for the project."
Phil Dehany started attending the support group four years after he was diagnosed with HIV in 2016."I live by myself here in London and it can be lonely," he said. "Those opportunities to meet up with people once a month were a lifeline."I would go as often as I could, and it's one of those things that you don't miss until it's gone, and I wish now that I'd gone a lot more often.""It was really sad when the project came to an end - straight away you've just lost that connection to that community."Mr Dehany said he now uses a range of other voluntary organisations, but fears that if funding struggles continue, those who need support, including elderly people living with HIV, will suffer.
'Nothing to replace that service'
The voluntary and community sectors that offer support services for people living with HIV have faced big cuts in the last decade, the National Aids Trust said.A report by the charity found 71% of London's HIV voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations had to either reduce staff numbers, close services, merge with other organisations or use cash reserves to cover operating costs in the last three years.Some 40% were concerned about their ability to deliver services over the next three years.Robbie Currie, CEO of the National Aids Trust, said: "There's a funding crisis going on within the sector across the UK."Statutory services have been massively reduced. It has really impacted on service provision. Services are either being cut completely or they are being reduced."Of Positively UK, he said: "There's just nothing to replace that service."
The government recently pledged to end all new HIV diagnoses by 2030.Ms Petretti said: "The government wants the UK to reach zero transmissions by 2030, but if people are not supported to stay well, we will not reach this goal."In June, the Local Government Association warned that sexual health services in England were grappling with "unprecedented pressure" and urged the government to carve out a 10-year strategy and invest more to deliver "expert, timely care".A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said its 10-year health plan focused on how local government could improve services for sexual health by making better use of funding and working more closely with the NHS.They added: "We are fully committed to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and our upcoming HIV Action Plan will focus not just on prevention and testing, but also on helping people live well with HIV."They said more than £6m had been invested in the National HIV Prevention Programme and £27m of funding was announced in December.
Additional reporting by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Public health chiefs scramble to roll out jab to protect against one of Britain's most common STI as drug-resistant cases surge
Health chiefs have announced a new vaccination which protects against one of the UK's most common STIs, in a bid to tackle a worrying rise in drug-resistant cases. Gonorrhoea can usually be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated it can lead to infertility and an increased risk of HIV transmission. Latest data revealed there were over 85,000 cases reported in England in 2023—the highest number since records since records began in 1918. The first line treatment is an antibiotic called ceftriaxone, but 15 ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases were detected in England between June 2022 and May 2024. And this worryingly included five that were also found to be resistant to second line treatments and other antibiotic options. In response, the free jab will be offered—in England only—to those most at risk, including gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners, or a bacterial STI. Gonorrhoea also disproportionately affects those in deprived areas and people of black Caribbean ethnicity. The experts predict the vaccine, which will be available at NHS sexual health clinics, will prevent up to 100,000 cases. The vaccine, known as 4CMenB, is already used to protect against meningococcal B disease—a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in the routine childhood programme and given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. Patients getting the gonorrhoea vaccine will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B at their appointment. The minister for public health and prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: 'Rolling out this world-leading gonorrhoea vaccination programme in sexual health clinics in England represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels. 'This government's world-first vaccination programme will help turn the tide on infections, as well as tackling head-on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. 'I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination, to protect not only yourselves but also your sexual partners.' Symptoms of gonorrhoea in women include a yellow or greenish discharge from their vagina, burning while peeing, pain in your lower abdomen, and in rare cases bleeding between periods. Meanwhile symptoms in men include burning and pain when they pee, fluid or discharge coming out of the penis and sore testicles. However, the STI can affect other parts of the body when they come in contact with semen or vaginal fluid. In these cases, symptoms may include: a sore throat; pain, itching and discharge from your bottom; eye redness, pain and discharge. It comes a month after health chiefs urged the 418,000 under-25s who left school without receiving a life-saving cancer vaccine to come forward for the jab. This was the HPV vaccine, which is routinely offered to children in year 8 of secondary school. The jab protects against human papillomavirus—a common infection which is linked to several cancers. Around 80 per cent of the population will be exposed to HPV at some point, usually through sexual contact. Children are targeted for vaccination before they have been exposed—with the aim of providing protection through into adulthood. In most cases the virus is harmless, but in some cases it can trigger changes in DNA that lead to cervical cancer, and cancers of the penis and anus. When someone performs oral sex on a partner with HPV, the virus can infect the mouth and throat. The vaccine, which is proven in studies to be highly effective, prevents this from happening. In July, GP practices across England prepared to invite patients aged between 16 and 25 to get vaccinated via letters, emails, texts and the NHS app. Experts had previously warned that low uptake of the HPV vaccine is putting children at risk of developing cancer later in life. They believe this may be partly due to a misconception that the jab is only relevant to sexually transmitted infections—and therefore not necessary for children.
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Death at Guys Marsh prison prompts call to curb illicit alcohol and drugs
Ministers should draw up a specific policy to reduce inmate access to illicitly brewed alcohol and medication after the death of a vulnerable prisoner, a coroner has said. An inquest jury found last month that Sheldon Jeans, who was discovered dead in his cell at HMP Guys Marsh on or about 13 November 2022, had died as a result of consuming illegal alcohol and four different medications that had not been prescribed to him, recording death by misadventure. Rachael Griffin, the senior Dorset coroner, issued a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report in response to findings at the inquest, highlighting national policy and guidance relating to the handling of hooch and medication in prisons as areas for concern. 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken … There is a lack of national policy, and local guidance at HMP Guys Marsh, to inform staff working in prisons of the dangers of illicitly brewed alcohol, also known as hooch,' she wrote. The report has been sent to the Department of Health and Social Care, HM Prison and Probation Service, HMP Guys Marsh, and Oxleas NHS foundation trust, requesting a response by 19 September 2025 detailing actions to be taken and a timetable for that action. Jeans, 32, from Portsmouth, had a history of mental health issues and was anxious about the impending outcome of a parole hearing when he took them, a jury at Dorset coroner's court in Bournemouth heard. In the report, the coroner drew attention to evidence given about the continual problem in prison of hooch, which is illicitly brewed from substances legitimately available to prisoners. In September 2022, shortly before Sheldon's death, 215.5 litres were seized at HMP Guys Marsh. Hooch was described as a dangerous substance during the inquest, and has sedative effects which can be increased when consumed alongside certain medications. The coroner said that while policies are in place concerning the possession and use of illicit substances in prisons, these focus on drugs or medication and 'remain silent in relation to alcohol'. The coroner also raised concerns over prisoners having access to prescription medication that was not prescribed to them. Sheldon had taken four different types of medication, none of which had been prescribed to him, alongside consuming hooch. At the inquest, the jury concluded that the substances in isolation would not have been fatal, but taken together caused a sedative effect which, combined with Sheldon's body posture, led to respiratory depression. At the inquest, it was heard that prescription medication at HMP Guys Marsh can either be taken under supervision, or a prisoner is provided with the medication for them to keep and take in their cells. While it is not known how Sheldon accessed the medication he consumed, evidence was provided at the inquest about how prisoners are able to access each other's cells during states of unlock – such as during meal collection times. Medication was shown to be left around cells and in unsecured plastic containers, despite lockable cupboards available. Following the inquest, the jury concluded that Sheldon's death had been by misadventure, and that while he had deliberately taken the substances, he had not intended to end his life. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'We will carefully consider the coroner's findings and will respond to the report in due course.' The jury found the levels of drugs and alcohol separately would not have killed Jeans. But his posture resulted in fatal respiratory depression, which he had not intended. He was found to have taken pregabalin, used to treat epilepsy and anxiety, and the antidepressant mirtazapine. Jeans also took the opioid painkiller dihydrocodeine and quetiapine, which is used to treat mental health conditions. He had not been prescribed any of them. Leigh Day partner Benjamin Burrows, who represents Sheldon's family, said: 'Our hope is that steps are taken in prisons across the country, not just HMP Guys Marsh, to address these issues and to safeguard against this kind of tragic death occurring again.'
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
EDF Energy served notice as Hartlepool nuclear power worker injured
An energy company failed to ensure the safety of employees when a nuclear worker was injured by a boiler, an investigation has found. An EDF Energy worker suffered hearing damage when high-pressure steam was released from a valve on 14 May at Hartlepool nuclear power Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said EDF must implement safety measures to reduce the risk to workers from potential health and safety risks associated with the boilers and said it "should not have happened" and added it had undertaken a review of its working procedures in those areas. An investigation by the ONR said the worker was injured when they were able to open the incorrect valve on the boiler, releasing high-pressure and high-temperature steam during maintenance report found there was no risk to nuclear safety, the public or the environment as a result. Mike Webb, ONR's superintending inspector for operating reactors, said: "Our inquiries into the incident showed that EDF had failed to take appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of employees working on boilers."He said the ONR would continue to engage with EDF during the period of the improvement notice "to ensure positive progress is made to address this shortfall".The measures ordered by the ONR involve preventing any unintended steam discharge from the equipment's boilers, ensuring worker safety at all times. 'Rigorous working standards' EDF has until 30 August to comply with the notice, the report says. A spokesperson for EDF said: "Hartlepool Power Station takes great pride in ensuring rigorous working standards are in place to protect our people and our plant. "EDF takes the protection of everyone working at our sites very seriously and has subsequently undertaken a review of our working procedures in these areas."They added EDF would "continue to work closely with the ONR to continually improve the site safety performance". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
