Today we are launching the ‘Evolving the care of people living with HIV in London’ report on behalf of people living with HIV, their doctors and nurses, the voluntary sector and the health and care system around them.
HIV is a significant and evolving health concern for Londoners. Almost 40% of people using HIV services in the UK do so in the capital.
As the health and care system embarks on major change by forming Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), this report sets out key priorities so London can deliver the best possible health and care for people living with HIV.
Evolving the care of people living with HIV in London was developed by a Task and Finish Group of professional stakeholders and a community advisory group of people living with HIV. Fast-Track Cities London’s role was to facilitate and oversee this work.
This report is designed to support all partners in Integrated Care Systems to grasp the opportunity to build on existing successes. HIV has the potential to become the blueprint for how we care for long term conditions in London in the future.
Evolving the care of people living with HIV in London identifies priorities for commissioning, partnership working, and to improve health outcomes.
The report sits in the context of the four HIV strategic aims which the Mayor of London, NHS England, Public Health England and London Councils have made a commitment to achieve in the capital by 2030:
- zero new HIV infections,
- zero preventable HIV-related deaths,
- zero HIV stigma, and
- the best health and quality of life for people living with HIV.
This document coincides with the development of the Government’s HIV Action Plan, expected in late 2021, and aligns with the aims of the health and care White Paper. It also supports London’s vision to become the healthiest global city.
London has already achieved world-leading success in tackling HIV – it was one of the first cities to exceed the United Nation’s 90- 90-90 targets and aims to be the first city in the world to end new HIV infections.
But there is still much to be done before London can achieve the four aims. More people are living with HIV in London than ever before, and their health and care needs are becoming more complex as they age. We need work with and engage people at all levels, from neighbourhood to national, and from all partners in the health and care system. Without this, today’s gains could be reversed.
Furthermore, while clinical outcomes of HIV treatment in London are among the best in the world, they are subject to significant inequalities according to place, ethnicity, gender and other socio-economic factors. On top of this, people living with HIV are subject to stigma and discrimination, which can stop people from getting tested and accessing services.
The vision for ‘Evolving the care of people living with HIV in London’ is to bring together all parts of the health and care system around these priorities. Everyone has a unique opportunity to review the challenges across the whole HIV care pathway and jointly design services to make sure that, wherever people may live, they are able to access care of the highest standard.
People living with HIV have been front and centre in developing this report and look forward to working with the HIV sector and Integrated Care Systems on these priorities.
Read the full report here: Evolving the care of people living with HIV in London.