News Round Up

posted: 19/05/2008

Sickness Benefits Are Changing, What Next in Prosecutions, UK African Prevention Plan, Positive Action, Is

Incapacity Benefit Changes October
Everyone now receiving Incapacity Benefit (or Income Support for ill-health) will have to take a "rigorous" test to see if they are capable of working, starting in April 2010. The government says it wants to shift towards a sickness benefits system that encourages people to work if they can.
The first step will be in late October this year. Incapacity Benefit (and Income Support) will be replaced with a new benefit for people making fresh benefit claims for sickness. The new benefit is Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Then, between April 2010 and 2013, everyone already on Incapacity Benefit (Income Support) will also face the tougher tests that will be used for Employment and Support Allowance.

Employment and Support Allowance involves a 13 week series of hurdles. This starts with a physical and mental activities test which is much tougher than the one already used for Incapacity Benefit. This looks at what you can't do. You need to score 15 points at least to stay on ESA. Score under 15 points, and you will have to claim Job Seekers Allowance.

The next ESA hurdle is a test to see if you have a "limited capability for work-related activity" - there are 46 categories. Fit at least one of these and you will be left to your own devices in the ESA "support" stream.

Everyone else is put in the "work-related activity" stream of ESA and has to go through a "work-focused health-related assessment." This looks at what you can do rather than the things that you can't do. A "capability report" is produced and that is used in the first work-focused interview, about 8 weeks after you claim. There are then monthly work-focused interviews (six in total) aimed at getting people back into work. Free factsheets available at www.disabilityalliance.org/esa.htm


DLA special rules - Top Twin Tip
The review of all people paid the highest rate for care under the "special rules" is continuing to bite. Don't ignore the review form, DBD551. Get expert help - it's not a form for DIY filling in. Our welfare rights expert will help. Her top tip is to imagine you have a HIV negative twin who is otherwise the same as you, but is fit and perfectly well. Now keep a diary to show our welfare rights expert. The diary should spell out how your day to day life is different from your pretend negative twin. S/he won't have treatment side effects, unpredictable nausea and explosive runs, have days too exhausted to get out of bed etc. No detail is too graphic or small. And in the diary list any drug side effects and all the medications you take, even asprins.


Prosecutions Policy - what’s next?
HIV sector experts met after the Crown Prosecution Service published its prosecutions guide for transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI).

The fundamental weakness is the guide doesn't name HIV, any other STI, nor spell out unambiguously that using condoms is always a reasonable defence. Instead the policy is general and short on detail. We predict the recent run of failed prosecutions will continue because it doesn’t give their own prosecutors the clear guidance they need on the evidence required by courts for fair verdicts. The CPS has just abandoned another case - against a gay man in Cardiff.

A UK consensus statement from medical experts on the evidence needs in prosecutions for the transmission of each STI should help. This would deal with transmission risks, reasonable ways to reduce these, and interpreting the clinical and scientific evidence of transmission. The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASSH) might be asked to provide this. We also need updated best practice guidance for clinics on better handling of contact tracing, and on keeping clinical records about sexual behaviour and the advice given.


Undetectable = Uninfectious?
The Swiss National AIDS Commission’s claim in January created an international storm. They said that people with an undetectable viral load (under 40 copies/ml) for at least six months, keeping to their treatments properly, and with no other sexually transmitted infections, cannot pass on HIV sexually. The latest issue of HIV Treatment Update from NAM examines this claim in detail. The Swiss are wrong, but it is true that people meeting all three Swiss conditions are not very likely to pass on HIV.

The evidence the Swiss relied on comes from just three small studies with different HIV status heterosexual couples - under 200 couples. This is nowhere near enough people to be sure HIV won’t be passed on. A bigger study with nearer 2000 couples has now started. And the Swiss advice definitely doesn’t apply to anal sex, because the transmission risks are higher.


African HIV Prevention Plan
The UN Special Envoy for HIV and AIDS in Africa, Elizabeth Mataka, launched the first HIV prevention plan for Africans in England, at the recent Under the Baobab Tree conference. Titled "The knowledge, the will and the power: a plan of action to meet the HIV prevention needs of Africans living in England", it can be downloaded from Sigma Research at http://tinyurl.com/563mpj


Positive Action - making it happen
Feedback from the March Positive Action Conference of people living with HIV begins at George House Trust on Tuesday 8 July. Copies of the report of the conference will then be available.

Positive Action was a place to debate the hot issues, develop community leadership for increased influence and action, and establish sustainable networks of people living with HIV. A George House Trust service user co-chaired the conference opening session and four people, including one from George House Trust, made a presentation from the conference to clinicians at the recent British HIV Association Conference in Belfast.

The top topics at Positive Action were influencing healthcare services, employment and HIV, HIV 'education' (in schools and public awareness), stigma, discrimination and disclosure, and prosecutions for HIV transmission.



Prize Winning Graphic Novel
Blue Pills - is the life story of a family coming to terms with HIV, powerfully told in graphics. When "Blue Pills" was first published in the author’s native Switzerland, it sold more than 20,000 copies, an extraordinary feat for a 192-page book drawn entirely in black and white graphics. It’s won prizes at Europe's most prestigious comic book festivals and is now out in the first English translation. It costs under £9 at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/276epp

News About Us - Positive Speakers & Volunteers Survey

posted: 19/05/2008

Awareness Raising and Stigma Challenging with Positive Speakers

A major awareness-raising training and information programme, using trained speakers who are living with HIV, is about to be launched by George House Trust.

Schools, colleges, universities, voluntary organisations and employers are among the targets for this mind-changing work. One in three people living with HIV have experienced HIV-related discrimination at some time in their lives and the Positive Speakers Programme forms part of our work to challenge HIV-related stigma.

Funding comes from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and we are already recruiting the project co-ordinator, who will develop a comprehensive training and support programme for the Positive Speakers and reach out into the community.

If you are living with HIV and are interested in becoming a Positive Speaker, please contact Laura on 0161 274 4499 or email: laura@ght.org.uk


Plugged by 98% of Volunteers
Findings from our recent survey of volunteers were overwhelmingly positive, with 98% of volunteers indicating that they would recommend volunteering at George House Trust to others and over 85% reporting being satisfied with the induction, training and support they receive.

Volunteers also reported personal development, better contacts and networks, accepting and understanding others’ cultures and communities and an ability to challenge stigma about HIV. 58% of respondents said that volunteering had increased their skills and over a third said it had increased their ability to get paid work. Volunteers value the support and sense of belonging at George House Trust, the opportunity to give something back and the training and information they receive about HIV.

Findings will feed volunteer development at George House Trust over the next year including:
• more training and skills events
• improvements to the volunteering part of the website
• more social networking opportunities

Information from Laura, 0161 274 4499 laura@ght.org.uk

News - fundraising

posted: 19/05/2008

New grants, events support and Great Manchester run

Grants fund services
It's been a great few months for fundraising from trusts and local companies, so a big thank you goes to the following organisations:

D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust for covering the costs of creche facilities for the Saturday space and SMART group by donating £3,500; and

HealthSure for funding a range of activities at our group spaces by contributing £2,300; and

Manchester Guardian Society for supporting creative writing workshops at the women's service by donating £1,000.


Events supporters
Events organised independently provide a welcome source of support to George House Trust and we are grateful for the following:

Bury Grammar School around World Aids Day held various events which raised over £500 and we are grateful for the continuing support of the school and in particular Andrew Christian who co-ordinated things;

The Gay Village Community Dinner was held on April 17 with all the proceeds raised for the benefit of George House Trust. A great night was had by all! In addition to all the tickets proceeds (amount to be confirmed), over £400 was raised on the night in sponsorship for our Great Manchester Run team. A big thank you to Gareth Williams at Hot Village, Manchester 235 Casino, and The Birdcage.

Sponsored yoga - making 108 yoga Sun Salutations raised over £500 through the efforts of Jane Craggs www.janecraggs.co.uk

Great Manchester Run
As we go to print the final planning for the 10km Great Manchester Run is almost done. Hopefully by the time you read this we'll all have survived the run and recovered from our blisters.
We have over £5 000 of donations pledged through JustGiving.com alone, so the Run promises to be a successful large fundraising event and hopefully a fun day out for everyone. Big thanks to everyone who ran or is supporting us.
You can donate to us at www.justgiving.com/ght as well as at www.ght.org.uk

In my own words .... FactFile

posted: 19/05/2008

Name: “Carol” (early 40s, British woman, diagnosed 2007)

How did you find out about George House Trust?
When I went to the hospital, when I was diagnosed.


How did you feel when you were diagnosed?
I was shocked, but when I went to be tested the day before, the conversation with the health worker had prepared me for the possibility of a positive diagnosis. So when I received my test result it wasn't as unexpected as it might have been. I had also been ill, so it made sense of some of the symptoms that I had experienced.
I felt completely detached when I left the hospital and walked back to the car. My first thoughts were how was I going to be able to tell my family. The most helpful advice I was given very early on was that I didn't need to tell anyone. I had one very supportive friend that I spoke to straight away.


What George House Trust services have you used?
I have used one to one support to talk about how I am coming to terms with my status. I have also been to the women's group that meets in the evening, as I work, and also the Saturday Space.


How do you rate George House Trust for HIV support?
It has been an invaluable source of support, particularly as I have felt unable to tell many people close to me. One to one sessions at George House Trust have enabled me to talk about how I feel and to know that I am not alone. It is good to know that I can always pick up the phone and hear a supportive voice at the other end.
All the services I have used, the NHS and the voluntary sector have been really supportive. I have never felt so well looked after. I realise I do not have a death sentence.


What message would you like to give to other people?
The message is to be aware, to take responsibility for your own health and not to assume that it can't happen to you. If you have had unprotected sex, it is much better to be tested, so that you know for certain what your health status is. If you are negative, think about how you are going to stay that way!


Hopes for the future
I hope that in the future I feel able to tell more of my close friends, family and colleagues that I am HIV positive.

editorial - From Protest to Pro Test

posted: 19/05/2008

Michelle Reid discusses testing

This year George House Trust will be encouraging people to take regular HIV tests, in an effort to slow down and even decrease the number of new HIV infections in the North-West region.

The "Better to Know" campaign will promote regular testing to everyone. Our front page article encourages people to test in a clinic where trained staff can help people come to terms with whatever result they might receive. But of course, there are a number of other options available.
Home testing kits have been out there for some time, and you can buy these from a variety of places. If this is the route you choose, we recommend that the best supporting advice will be included in kits ordered online from Terrence Higgins Trust (£34 per kit).

Whilst we encourage people to test, you should be aware that home testing kits are not always straight forward. In most cases, you send off a saliva sample. This method can confirm a negative result, but they can't confirm whether you're positive.

When a positive result is indicated, the next step would be to have an HIV test in a medical environment, and there is evidence to suggest that people often don't follow up with a confirming blood test at a clinic.

That's why we strongly encourage people to go for the test in a medical or community testing centre. But however you choose to test, the important thing is to know your status, and to keep on knowing your status.