UK Standards for HIV Care Online for Comment

Note: deadline extended until 12 October.

In order to help with the planning of HIV services and to ensure that HIV positive people receive access to the appropriate levels of treatment and service, the British HIV association (BHIVA) have drafted "Standards of Care for People Living with HIV". 

It is hoped that the document will be used during and after the proposed national changes in NHS reorganisation and be used for planning both national and local services.

A first draft of this report is now online for comments, with the consultation period ending on 12th October. Feedback on all aspects of the document is encouraged. The draft was compiled by a wide range of stakeholders, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, community advocates and HIV positive people.

Further information on process of producing the standards, together with links to download PDF files for each of the twelve standards and to make online comments is on the BHIVA website.

www.bhiva.org/standards-of-care-2012.aspx 

The final document will be published on Thursday 29 November 2012 at a formal launch event to mark World AIDS Day.

The recommendations are covered in 12 major areas of care.

1. Diagnostic Testing for HIV
2. Access to, and retention in, HIV treatment and care
3. Provision of outpatient treatment and care for HIV, and access to care for complex co-morbidity
4. Safe ARV prescribing: Effective Medicines Management
5. Inpatient care for people living with HIV
6. Psychological care
7. Sexual health and secondary HIV prevention
8. Reproductive Health
9. Self management
10. Service user engagement / involvement
11. Competencies
12. Data, Audit and Research