HIV support services in worst-hit areas of UK at risk of cuts

HIV support services for some of the UK’s worst-affected areas are just weeks away from being cut, it was revealed today.The proposed cuts will see a reduction in advice and counselling services in South London, affecting up to 900 people living with HIV in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.The local councils are expected to make their final decision in June, with campaigners fighting to save the services before the deadline.Thomas Lange, 26, from Brixton, was diagnosed with HIV at 18, and regularly uses the services in Lambeth.He said: “Without [the services] I genuinely don’t think I’d be alive. I was lonely, suicidal and sleeping rough.

“They helped me access benefits so I could get out of homelessness, and my counsellor showed me a level of kindness and understanding that I’d not had since I was diagnosed.

“If these are cut, where will people go? General services cannot meet the needs of everyone with HIV in these boroughs, and they don’t understand what it is emotionally and physically to live with HIV.”

HIV rates in these boroughs soar above the national average, with Lambeth eight times higher than the UK average.

Southwark’s HIV prevalence is 6.5 times higher, while Lewisham sits in the top ten.

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People living with HIV are backing an online petition to save the services, which under the new proposals could disappear by October 1st.

UK HIV and sexual health charity, The Terrence Higgins Trust, which currently provides specialist advice and counselling across the three boroughs, faces “worrying” consequences if the cuts go ahead.

“Worryingly, this is part of an alarming trend of cuts to HIV services that we’re starting to see across the country,” said Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust.

“We fear the cuts in these boroughs could set a dangerous precedent on a national level.”

Earlier this month, new findings from the UK HIV Stigma Index revealed around half of participants reported feeling shame, guilt, low self-esteem and/or self-blame in relation to their HIV status.

The survey also showed 28% of people who were diagnosed with HIV in the past 12 months reported suicidal thoughts.

Dr Michael Brady, Medical Director of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “I would be very concerned for my patients’ well-being if they no longer had access to these services.”
The Trust is meeting with officials from Lambeth to find a solution.

You can help stop the cuts by signing Thomas’s change.org petition.

Words: Andrew Headspeath

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