Laura Sharman 23 March 2016

Councils criticise lack of funding for new HIV treatment

Councils have hit out at the 'wholly inadequate' announcement by NHS England that it will be left to local authorities to fund a new HIV treatment.

Yesterday, NHS England said it would not be funding Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), but would provide up to £2m over the next two years to run a number of early implementer test sites.

However, the Local Government Association said NHS England had retained the commissioning of HIV therapeutics, so expecting councils to fund PrEP treatment was a 'new and unfunded burden' on local authorities.

The LGA's community wellbeing spokeswoman, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: 'This is a missed opportunity to launch a ground-breaking prevention method that could halt the spread of HIV, potentially save lives, and make a significant breakthrough in reducing the risk of HIV infection. Councils have invested millions in providing sexual health services since taking over responsibility for public health three years ago, and this treatment could help reduce levels of HIV in the community.

'It is also not right that councils should be made to foot the bill. In stating that local authorities are responsible for commissioning HIV prevention, NHS England adopts what is, in our view, a wholly inadequate position.’

PrEP is a new way of using anti-retroviral drugs to stop those at very highest risk from contracting the virus.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Adult Social Care Support Worker - Technology Enabled Care

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum
Adult Social Care Support Worker - Technology Enabled CareFixed Term, Full Time£25,391 to £32,131 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Placement Officer

Essex County Council
£28220.00 - £33200.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Placement OfficerPermanent, Full Time£28,220 to £33,200 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Senior Highways Engineer

Hounslow London Borough Council
£50,754 – £53,607 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Customer Service Adviser

Oxfordshire County Council
£24404 - £24790
You will be the Customer Service Adviser at Abingdon Library. Customer Service Advisers are the first point of contact with library customers and library partners. The role involves continual interaction with users of the library, face to face, via email Abingdon
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner