NAT has had a number of successes in influencing legislation to protect people living with HIV.

Charging for HIV treatment

In February 2012, following an amendment tabled by Lord Fowler to the Health and Social Care Bill, the Government announced that it would end NHS charges for HIV treatment in England.  This is a huge achievement and follows years of campaigning by NAT and other HIV and migrant organisations. 

The Government will introduce regulations before the 2012 summer Parliamentary recess to make the change and there will be universal free access from October 2012. 

NAT worked closely with Lord Fowler on the amendment and briefed Peers from all parties, crossbenchers and Bishops.  The amendment was debated at Committee Stage and then again at Report Stage when the Minister committed to end charging.

The change will mean that everyone can access HIV treatment when they need it and will not have to worry about incurring huge, unaffordable debts.  People will no longer be put off testing for HIV or accessing care for fear of these debts.

NAT is now calling on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to make the same commitment

You can read the discussion of the amendment in at both Committee Stage and Report Stage on Hansard:

At Committee stage the discussion starts at column 815

At Report Stage the discussion starts at column 1393

Read NAT’s press statement on the changes

Public Health Outcomes Framework

As part of the NHS reforms the Government have introduced a Public Health Outcomes Framework which sets out the outcomes against which Local Authority’s performance can be assessed. 

After tireless campaigning both by NAT and many other HIV organisations,  late diagnosis of HIV has been included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Late diagnosis of HIV is one of the biggest issues within the UK’s HIV epidemic today.  About half of all people diagnosed with HIV last year were diagnosed ‘late’, after the point at which they should have started treatment.  If a person is diagnosed with HIV late, they are far more likely to have passed the infection on to others and the likelihood of ill health and even an early death are all significantly increased. 

NAT will be monitor Local Authorities and CCGs to ensure they respond to this indicator, and assess how they are doing in reducing late diagnosis and improving testing uptake.

Read the Public Health Outcomes Framework 

Read NAT’s response to the consultation