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Deborah Gold, Chief Executive said:

“We warmly welcome the publication today of the Government’s new HIV Action Plan, including the first significant new funding for HIV testing in nearly a decade. The important new commitments, to fund opt-out HIV tests in hospitals in the highest prevalence areas, to explore making PrEP more widely available outside of sexual health services, to improve NHS training to tackle HIV stigma and to report annually on progress towards 2025 and 2030 targets are all a substantial step in the right direction.

“It is clear however that this Plan won’t be enough on its own to get us to our shared goal of ending HIV transmission by 2030 – a goal that is completely reachable. Many of the commitments are unspecific and not time-bound and momentum is key. Local authorities, who have responsibility for HIV prevention, are chronically underfunded, and the recent disappointing settlement on public health funding means that they will struggle to play their crucial role.

“The Government must deliver the commitments quickly and push forward on tackling HIV stigma across our society, scaling up testing across the NHS and ensuring everyone with HIV is supported to access HIV treatment. National AIDS Trust will be closely monitoring progress and ensuring that reduced transmissions are a reality for all communities affected by HIV.”

-Ends-

For more details please contact Joe Lester on joe.lester@nat.org.uk or 020 7814 6727

Notes to editors

About National AIDS Trust

We’re the UK’s HIV rights charity. We work to stop HIV from standing in the way of health, dignity and equality, and to end new HIV transmissions. Our expertise, research and advocacy secure lasting change to the lives of people living with and at risk of HIV.

www.nat.org.uk

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