Aids groups hit out over cuts to funding
Katie Davies
HIV and Aids charities have attacked Barnet Council's plans to slash £45,000 from its support services for sufferers.
Lisa Power, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "Far from HIV being under control, it is the fastest growing serious health condition in the UK, with 646 people newly diagnosed in central north London last year alone.
"Barnet Council receives designated Aids support grant funding from the government for these services, guaranteed for the next two years and while it may be confident in making cuts, people with HIV are unlikely to agree."
The cuts will come in with the new budget in April. Councillor Fiona Bulmer said: "Huge advances in medical treatment in recent years mean that HIV patients are living longer and have healthier lives than ever before. Consequently there has been a corresponding fall in demand on social services to provide care for HIV patients. We are therefore proposing to reduce our budget in this area by £45,000 and we are confident that this will not have an impact on any users of the service."
Yusef Azad, from the National Aids Trust, said: "There have been significant advances in HIV treatment which enable the majority of people living with HIV to lead healthy, working lives.
"However, there are still serious issues of poverty, ill health and social exclusion associated with HIV.
"A rigorous needs-assessment of people living with HIV in Barnet should be carried out to ensure that funding is not being withdrawn from a vulnerable group."
katie.davies@hamhigh.co.uk
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