Welcome to London HIV Strategy Introduction

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LONDON HIV STRATEGY- DRAFT VERSION 2

WORK IN PROGRESS

3 September 2004

1. INTRODUCTION

1. This strategy sets the framework for the planning, development and delivery of HIV treatment and care services in London . This work is carried out by people living with and affected by HIV, HIV voluntary sector agencies, HIV clinicians, managers and PCT commissioners from the London HIV consortium. It is on behalf of the London Specialised Commissioning Group, a collaborative of Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities, NHS and Foundation Trusts and Patients and the public, that co-ordinates the commissioning of specialised services in London .
2. London has and treats the highest number of people living with HIV in the UK . New HIV diagnoses continue to rise and this growth in people in need of HIV treatment places many financial pressures on HIV treatment and care services and PCTs.
3. The need for a strategy in London was identified as early as 2001 when a draft London HIV strategy was issued for consultation. This report updates this work taking account of the government’s National Sexual Health and HIV strategy (2001), findings in the House of Commons’ Health Select Committee enquiry into sexual ehalth (2003), the DH’s Effective commissioning of sexual health and HIV services: a sexual health and HIV commissioning toolkit for Primary Care Trusts and local authorities (2003), the Medical Foundtion for AIDS and Sexual Health’s (MedFASH) “Recommended standards for NHS HIV services” (2003), the London-wide Sexual Health Framework (2004), the HIV review of commissioning arrangements in London (2004) and the GLA report of its scrutiny of HIV services (2004).
4. This report prioritises work on HIV treatment and care services that are defined as specialised by the Department of Health. It will address issues of HIV prevention and health promotion, social and other care services and make appropriate referral to lead agencies to take this work forward.
5. The framework supports the government’s policy priorities of access to services, public health promotion, patient and public involvement and chronic disease management.
6. It integrates the two overall objectives of London-wide Sexual Health Framework to:
   • Improve London ’s public health through the promotion of good sexual health and the prevention of sexual ill health
   • Improve access to London ’s sexual health & HIV care service
     
   In support of these objectives, it proposes the following standards:
   • a reduction in the level of undiagnosed HIV in London by 2008
   • increase the level of HIV screening amongst antenatal patients by 2005
   • an improvement in the patient experience amongst people using sexual health services, by April 2007.

7. It outlines the broad areas of development and action that should be undertaken over the next three years in London within which the London HIV Consortium, the five London SHAs, PCTs and their NHS & voluntary and community organisations ( VCO ) partners will develop and/or update local action plans. These local plans will also integrate local priorities and need.

8. This framework promotes service redesign and partnership working within London ’s NHS and between NHS organisations and other agencies including Local Government and VCOs.

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