LifePlus - Web HIV Support

posted: 07/02/2011

Life Plus is a new website that hopes to transform how people live with and manage HIV for life. Life Plus is a fresh set of online, face to face and telephone personalised support tools for people living with HIV in the UK.

It’s been created by the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), people with HIV, along with input from George House Trust and National Aids Manual.

There are around 86,500 people now living with HIV in the UK, and around 7,000 more are diagnosed every year. Life Plus should help take some of the pressure off HIV clinics by offering people with HIV support for living more independently, and longer and healthier lives, while HIV clinics focus help on the people who most need this.

Life Plus aims to support existing NHS HIV clinic care with face to face support, in the parts of the UK with the highest rates of HIV – Manchester, Brighton, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Cardiff. In each of these cities clinic-based health trainers will provide one-to-one support so people can become experts in all aspects of managing and living well with HIV.

The new website, myhiv.org.uk, provides interactive services to suit different people’s needs, including:
 

• privately and securely storing information to help track and manage your health and treatment better
• reminders for your clinic appointments
• forums to help you build HIV support communities and swop support
• online counselling and advice
• supporting HIV action campaigns

Watch YouTube of the interactive parts of the website

Life Plus has tailored versions specially for Africans, gay men, young people and everyone 

Sign up

To get the most out of the site and before you can use some of the sections (like the forums), you need to register. You register at a secure (https) webpage.

Anyone with HIV in the UK can register.  

Web and video conferencing at some clinics

For people who don’t have the internet at home (or on mobile), THT is working with some HIV clinics to offer free internet access to this website and video conferencing, so people can talk to experts while still at the clinic.

 

Elton's welcome

Sir Elton John, Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation said: “In many ways, the UK response to prevention and treatment of HIV has led the world. I am proud to be launching a new era in HIV services, delighted to be working with THT again, and hopeful that this approach may see opportunities for the management of other long term chronic conditions.”

Anne Aslett, Executive Director of EJAF said: “ When some 30% of HIV patients in the UK who attend their first clinic appointment don’t return, and challenging ARV therapy can result in unplanned treatment breaks, we were looking for a programme that could really help people begin treatment if they needed it and stay adherent for the long term. Life Plus does this in a very flexible and responsible way that also complements and supports healthcare providers.”

Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive for Terrence Higgins Trust said: “Life Plus is a very exciting new type of service provision and comes at a critical time to support the increasingly high numbers of people living with HIV in the UK. HIV is a complex condition so it’s vital that people get the best possible level of support, accessible in a multitude of ways, to ensure they remain healthy.

“HIV service providers and clinicians across the country have been fundamental in shaping Life Plus and these services have been designed to reach people in both rural and urban areas, whether they’re newly diagnosed or have been living with HIV for many years. Thanks to the Elton John AIDS Foundation these services will revolutionise support for people with HIV, helping them to manage their health and treatment more effectively.”

 

April Residential Weekend PLUS

posted: 21/01/2011

The success of the last Residential Weekend PLUS held in September 2010, has led to demand for another, on the weekend of April 1st to 3rd. We are holding it in the Peaks, at Whaley Bridge.

Gay or bisexual man who are interested in taking part need to have attended one of our previous weekends for gay and bi men living with HIV.

Weekend PLUS is to help you take the next 'step up' from your first residential weekend.

We’ve designed Weekend PLUS to provide the maximum time for discussion, reflection and the sharing of your experiences. A key part of the experience for everyone will be an individual reflection session with a qualified worker.

When
Residential Weekend PLUS runs from lunchtime on Friday April 1st to the afternoon of Sunday April 3rd.
 

Your transport from George House Trust, meals and accommodation at Whaley Bridge are all provided free.

Interested?
There are a limited number of places on this weekend. If you would like to join the weekend please email Colin Armstead, Service and Development Manager to say you are interested.

What some men said about the last Weekend PLUS :

The weekend really helped me to identify where I am now - and to look clearly at what I need for the future

I learned so much from the other men and really now feel focussed on making positive changes

It helped me connect, and gave me support and direction

Residential Weekend PLUS is financially supported by

Image : Whaley Bridge canal basin © Copyright Bill Booth and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Residential Weekend PLUS for HIV+ Gay Men

posted: 26/07/2010

Residential Weekend PLUS is for men who have attended a previous George House Trust weekend for gay men with HIV. It is intended as a 'step up' from that first weekend.
 

Are you interested?
This exciting new residential weekend will run from Friday September 17th to Sunday 19th 2010 in Whaley Bridge, in the Peak District.
 

You need to have taken part in one of the previous weekends run by George House Trust for gay men living with HIV.
 

• Residential Weekend PLUS will be led by Colin Armstead, (Service and Development Manager at George House Trust) and Alistair Gault (Alistair Gault Training).
• The weekend is designed so that there is maximum time for discussion, reflection and sharing experiences.
• A key part of the Residential Weekend PLUS experience for everyone will be a one to one session with a qualified worker. If you wish to apply for the weekend there is an expectation that you will agree to this session, which will provide you with an opportunity to explore issues with a worker on a one to one basis
• Residential Weekend PLUS runs from lunchtime on Friday September 17th to the afternoon of Sunday September 19th. You would also take part in a meeting for everyone who is attending in the week before - on Monday September 13th at George House Trust
• Transport, accommodation and meals are all provided for free
• There is a strict limit on numbers and we expect a high demand for places.
   

Ask by Monday 16 August

If you would like to be considered for this weekend please email Colin by Monday August 16th at the latest - to say you are interested.
 

We will then send out application forms shortly after the 16 August and will confirm who has a place at the weekend by Friday August 27th.
 

Residential Weekend PLUS is funded by Elton John Aids Foundation
 

Image © Copyright Bill Booth and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Disadvantages for HIV+ Over 50s

posted: 22/07/2010

Older people with HIV face many disadvantages, study finds
Most people with HIV aged 50 and over can expect to live a near normal lifespan thanks to modern HIV treatments, but are substantially more disadvantaged than their people of a similar age who don’t have HIV.
 

According to 50 Plus, the first national study of ageing and HIV, launched in Vienna at AIDS 2010, the 18th International AIDS Conference, older people living with HIV have worse health, are poorer, and fear for the future.
 

Other health problems common

Findings show that older people living with HIV are twice as likely to experience other long-term health problems alongside HIV, such as high blood pressure, kidney and liver problems and arthritis, with two thirds having treatment for these other conditions.
 

Worse off and money worries

Older people with HIV are financially worse off than other people of the same age without HIV. Older positive people are less likely to be working, less likely to have savings or pensions for their retirement and more likely to be on state benefits. Many have serious financial worries about the future. Older people with HIV are less likely to be homeowners and more likely to live in social or private rented housing. One said: “Since I was diagnosed in 1985 I regarded this as a death warrant and ceased to make any pension provisions.”
 

Good health information is top priority

Older people with HIV say having good quality health and treatment information is their highest priority, but three quarters fear needing health and social care in the future. As another person said: “I also fear that, in case I need to be cared for, the carer would be as ill-informed and prejudiced about HIV as the rest of the general public.”
 

Involving older people

The 50 Plus survey was designed with older people living with HIV, and it investigated the needs and concerns of 410 people, to help raise awareness of the issues that this group face and to collect evidence of the specific social care needs.

The 410 people surveyed are one in 25 of all the people aged 50 and over who are using HIV clinics in the UK – there are now well over 10,000 over 50s with HIV, with almost 1000 in the NW of England. Within the next ten years the number of over 50s with HIV will almost double.
 

While most over 50s living with HIV are gay men and white, there are numbers of heterosexual men and women including Africans, among other ethnic minority people.  

Terrence Higgins Trust’s Head of Policy, Lisa Power, said: “As a result of effective treatment options, and our ageing population, the over 50s are now the fastest growing group of people with HIV in the UK, and there’s a long way to go regarding support for this group. Older people with HIV are living with high levels of uncertainty about their future health and social care and need substantially more support than their peers.
“The information we’ve gathered through ‘50 Plus’ is vital in giving us a better understanding of the unique problems that older people with HIV face on a daily basis in the UK. With this insight we can develop support services that are fully tailored to this group’s needs to ensure they have the same quality of life as their peers.”
 

Other key lessons

Other findings from the report show that:

• Older people with HIV are a rapidly growing and diverse group. The majority of this group are gay and bisexual men but there are also high numbers of African migrants and white heterosexuals. Some are long-term survivors, whilst others have been recently infected - one in five (21%) were diagnosed in the 1980s but the greatest number (41%) were diagnosed since 2000.
• Whilst older people with HIV think very well of their HIV clinicians, many report poor experiences in primary care, including discrimination, ignorance and a low standard of clinical treatment, and use their GPs and generalist healthcare services less than older people in general. Many also fear that social care services, care homes and sheltered housing might be HIV prejudiced and/or homophobic.
• Many report feeling isolated and would like more social contact and support. Most prefer to find this through HIV organisations.
• Most were open about their HIV status in key relationships and usually get positive reactions; however, telling others about having HIV is still seen as risky.

In response to these research findings, Terrence Higgins Trust, Age UK and The Joseph Rowntree Foundation made five calls for action:

1. Improvements in healthcare to ensure access to good quality treatment in all settings and availability of better information to older people with HIV.
2. Better employment support, money management courses and benefits advice.
3. Action to deal with homophobia, HIV discrimination and ageism in all services, but especially in social housing, sheltered housing, care homes and health services (particularly primary care).
4. Improved emotional support and opportunities for social contact, to prevent isolation.
5. Greater cooperation and information sharing between organisations and services for older people, and those for people with HIV, to improve policy and practice.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “This report clearly shows that the problems many of us face in later life, such as financial pressures, deteriorating health and isolation are all exacerbated by the impact of HIV on people’s lives. Now people are living far longer with HIV than ever before, we need to shift the focus on support services to improving quality of life. To achieve this, it is vital that we increase awareness and understanding of the needs of this group across a range of health, social care, housing and advice services.”
 

Terrence Higgins Trust, Age UK and other HIV organisations like George House Trust, will be using the findings to help development services.
 

50 Plus    4 page summary available now 

The full 50 Plus report will be available from October 2010 at The Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Further data, including all statistical charts and the full literature review, will appear in the autumn in a special section of the THT website.
 

About the study

50 Plus research was conducted through an online and paper questionnaire and 40 in-depth interviews from a sample of adults aged 50 or over with HIV across the UK in 2009. The 50 Plus report is was based on the survey findings. The questionnaire was devised with the support of a Community Advisory Panel and interviews conducted by trained community researchers living with HIV. A literature review and visits to existing ageing and HIV work in the US were also undertaken. Age UK is the name for the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is one of largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. It aims to influence policy and practice by searching for evidence and demonstrating solutions to help overcome the causes of poverty, disadvantage and social evil.

Source
 

NHS £1.7bn Surplus v. Treatment Charges

posted: 21/05/2009

NHS bosses were urged to pump more money into frontline services after it was revealed that the NHS has amassed a record cash surplus of £1.7bn. The underspend, confirmed by the Commons public accounts committee yesterday, represents a rapid turnaround in health finances: three years ago, the organisation recorded a £500m deficit.

The exceptional figures delivered under the current health secretary, Alan Johnson, are in contrast to the experience of his predecessor, Patricia Hewitt, who was slow handclapped at a nurses' conference during a debate about NHS debt.

Large reserves, however, constitute a different form of political embarrassment. "It's not the case that the bigger a surplus the better," said Edward Leigh, chairman of the PAC. "Patients lose out if too much NHS funding is sitting unspent in bank accounts.

"The needs here and now of patients in parts of the country for drugs and better quality care must not be forgotten. [The surplus is] almost twice the amount planned and over £1bn more than the surplus generated in the previous year."

Janet Davies, of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "A £1.7bn surplus is £1.7bn which must be spent on improving patient care and the government must make clear how it plans to use this money. While we are encouraged that the NHS is on a firm financial footing, it is absolutely vital that this surplus goes straight to frontline services."

The £1.7bn represents almost 2% of annual NHS expenditure, the PAC report says. The cash came from a number of sources, including a fall in the price of generic medicines and the underuse of contingency funds. Savings were also made by changing the habit of trusts spending all of their budget at the end of each year "regardless of whether it [was] in the most appropriate fashion".

HIV treatment charges for migrants

Aside from using the money to help meet the costs of providing HIV treatment for all, following the minister's recent announcement of a review of the rules in the House Of Lords, more investment is sorely needed in HIV prevention.

Even more surplus expected this year

The NHS is forecasting that it will return a similar surplus in the year 2008-09. The Department of Health will return part of the unspent funds to the NHS at an annual rate of £400m for the next two years, providing cushioning for the economic downturn. The NHS is receiving above-average annual budget increases of 5.5% up to and including 2010–11.

One immediate threat looming over balance sheets is a change in accounting procedures which will add in £10.9bn of liabilities from the government's public finance initiatives (PFI). These were deliberately kept off government and NHS accounts, but cannot be hidden any longer.

"The Treasury has given a commitment that this will not adversely affect NHS funding in the period up to 31 March 2011," the PAC said. "There are, however, no guarantees beyond that point."

The NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, yesterday said the organisation would have to prepare for leaner times in the future.

The organisation is expected to deliver efficiency savings in the order of £15bn over the three years after 2011.
 

Source