Social Care Rises in Importance
posted: 25/11/2009
While social care is growing more important for people with HIV, workforce standards and uncertain future funding all cause concerns, say expert government HIV advisers.
In its annual report and advice to the government, the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, say that already 15% of people with HIV are 50 or over, and this proportion of older people will rise, faster.
This means services will face new service and information needs, such as about dealing with pensions, potential treatment clashes between HIV medicines and those for age-related conditions, as well as the long-term care needs of HIV positive people.
Workforce ignorance
The group warned there were "considerable gaps in knowledge about HIV" among social care and NHS staff. It also highlighted the government's failure to meet its pledge to introduce standards for delivering social care for people with HIV, which was part of its 2001 National Strategy on Sexual Health and HIV.
Aids Support Grant must be kept
The report worries about the "recent closure of HIV-specific services in some local authorities" and says the Department of Health must keep ring-fenced Aids Support Grant (ASG). This is for funding social care services for people with HIV/AIDS and totalled £21.8m in 2009-10, and the DH has promised to distribute a similar sum in 2010-11.
However, the grant's future beyond 2011 is uncertain, and a survey published by the National Aids Trust in August found a third of councils would cut services if the ring fence was removed. Community sector organisations were even more pessimistic about future HIV spending levels if this happened.
The expert group say: "The ASG has been an important catalyst in the development of services in local authorities and, as clinical experience illustrates, its continuation, indeed the monitoring of its use, is an important part of the package of care that is needed now and in the future."
Report of The Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV - Building on progress: Enhancing the response to HIV in England
image credit HIV and Social Care website
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