Press Release

NAT comment on the Queen's speech and the impact it could have on people living with HIV.

NAT comment on the Queen's speech and the impact it could have on people living with HIV.

Publication date

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

NAT (National AIDS Trust) responds to the announcement in the Queen's Speech today that migrants will face further restrictions to accessing NHS services. 

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT says "The Government has provided no evidence of the 'health tourism' which the restrictions on migrant access to the NHS outlined in today's Queen's Speech are meant to address.  In relation to HIV treatment, we know that claims of 'health tourism' are completely unfounded.  Our research has shown that migrants living with HIV are, on average, in the UK for five years before they are even diagnosed.  Far from being motivated by a desire to access health services, the Government's own research found that asylum seekers did not have any detailed knowledge of the NHS before coming to the UK.

Government announces it will provide foil to drug users - NAT comment.

Government announces it will provide foil to drug users - NAT comment.

Publication date

Friday, July 5, 2013

NAT (National AIDS Trust) welcomes the news that the Government will now be providing foil for drug users through drug treatment services.

Foil can be used to inhale heroin rather than injecting, thus removing the chance of sharing needles and of passing on blood-borne viruses such as HIV.   

The provision of foil as part of a drugs harm reduction package is something that NAT has argued for since 2010 and it is good to see the Government taking on board our recommendation.

NAT response to the Government's final national curriculum framework

NAT response to the Government's final national curriculum framework

Publication date

Thursday, September 12, 2013
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive, NAT (National AIDS Trust) said: "NAT (National AIDS Trust) is deeply disappointed that the Government have opted to remove sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from the national curriculum for Science in key stage 3, as outlined in its final national curriculum framework document released 11 Sept.

NAT comments - lifetime ban on gay men donating blood in Northern Ireland is 'irrational'.

NAT comments - lifetime ban on gay men donating blood in Northern Ireland is 'irrational'.

Publication date

Tuesday, October 15, 2013
NAT welcomes Friday's  ruling in the High Court of Belfast that the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood in Northern Ireland is 'irrational'.  
 
Northern Ireland has been out of step with the rest of the UK on this issue for two years, with England, Scotland and Wales overturning the lifetime ban in 2011 in the face of scientific evidence.