Black lives matter
As protests against racial injustice continue across the world, we’d like to make clear that the Fast-Track Cities London team stands firmly in solidarity with the Black community and the essential movement towards true equality, cooperation, respect, and inclusion. We believe our greatest strength is in standing together. We refuse racism, hatred and inequality of any kind everywhere.
Testing people who are homeless
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant London has been working together to bring many people who experience homelessness into hotels across the city, so they can stay safe. This presented an opportunity to test many of these people for HIV and some other sexually transmitted diseases.
Fast-Track Cities London has supported the Find and Treat homeless health team, which is part of University College London Hospital, with a new testing and treating initiative for people who experience homelessness. The initiative is run with support from Mortimer Market Centre. Fast-Track Cities are grateful to Gilead for funding this screening work.
As of Friday 29 May the service has seen:
- 362 individuals screened for HIV and hepatitis C
- 310 individuals screened for syphilis
- 22 people diagnosed with hepatitis C and started treatment with peer support
- 4 people HIV positive, all previously diagnosed, all disengaged from treatment
- Reasons for disengagement from HIV care was homelessness, unable to attend clinic and lost medications for three of the four individuals
- All four people started on ART
- All four people linked in with peer services
- Three people referred to start PrEP
Find and Treat have also involved peer advocacy services and provided information about PrEP and reducing harm at all assessments. Positive East are attending screenings in East London and Sophia’s Forum in South London. Prepster will be providing resources.
Fast-Track Cities improvement projects
The improvement community completed its Quality Improvement training last month with another online session from our partner ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust). Projects also started to discuss their launches, where this is possible and how they are adapting.
Living Well launched the Connect Well service last week, which aims to help people living with HIV who are struggling with loneliness. Visit connectwellnow.com to find out more or refer someone. Read a case study about how the project team are adapting their service to the current situation.
If you have any questions about the improvement community send us an email at hlp.londonftci@nhs.net.
Impact of COVID-19 on HIV services survey
COVID-19 has had a big impact on health systems and how they deliver services for health conditions like HIV. IAPAC wants to know the effects local COVID-19 responses are having on HIV services.
If you are a clinician who treats people living with or at risk of HIV, please complete the short survey. Take this survey.
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