Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on rolling out the routine commissioning of PrEP from April 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Department is continuing to work closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and local government to plan for routine commissioning of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) from April 2020. We will set out how commissioners will be supported shortly.
Routine commissioning of PrEP is expected to accommodate all individuals at risk of acquiring HIV based on clinical risk assessment. These assessments will be informed by current clinical guidelines produced by the British HIV Association and British Association for Sexual Health and HIV in relation to assessment of individuals at risk of HIV. These state that ‘PrEP is indicated for those at greater risk of HIV acquisition and therefore comprehensive history taking and risk assessment, including both sexual and drug taking histories, are required to identify those most likely to benefit’.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether routine commissioning of PrEP will accommodate all communities that could benefit from that trial including (a) women, (b) people who identify as Trans or non-binary, (c) BAME communities and (d) gay and bisexual men.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Department is continuing to work closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and local government to plan for routine commissioning of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) from April 2020. We will set out how commissioners will be supported shortly.
Routine commissioning of PrEP is expected to accommodate all individuals at risk of acquiring HIV based on clinical risk assessment. These assessments will be informed by current clinical guidelines produced by the British HIV Association and British Association for Sexual Health and HIV in relation to assessment of individuals at risk of HIV. These state that ‘PrEP is indicated for those at greater risk of HIV acquisition and therefore comprehensive history taking and risk assessment, including both sexual and drug taking histories, are required to identify those most likely to benefit’.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to the Fast Track Cities Initiative for HIV/AIDS.
Answered by Jo Churchill
Public Health England (PHE) is supporting cities in England that are working towards or have joined the HIV Fast Track Cities (FTCs) network and the International Association of providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC). Further information on the FTC programme is available at the following link:
http://www.fast-trackcities.org/cities
This support has included providing specialist public health advice to identify needs across the range of care. For example, improving access to HIV testing, tackling stigma and providing bespoke data analysis to better understand the local need.
PHE also works collaboratively with the initiative to provide methodologies and data to IAPAC, sharing learning and expertise with other FTCs and helping secure funding for work regionally.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its £1.5 million contribution to the Elton John AIDS Foundation to support the Evening Standard’s AIDSfree campaign will help achieve the target of zero new HIV transmissions by 2030.
Answered by Steve Brine
The Department is working with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to agree how the £1.5 million funding will be used and will confirm plans shortly.