World Aids Day: Our commitment to staff and patients living with HIV
On World Aids Day (1 December), we are happy to announce that we have committed to provide a stigma-free environment for all staff and patients who are living with HIV, by becoming a member of the HIV Confident charter mark.
In order to become HIV Confident, we have pledged to:
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Carry out a review of knowledge and attitudes across the workforce
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Review and, where necessary, update our policies and procedures around employment, infection control, and data protection
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Roll out a short anti-stigma eLearning package
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Establish clear reporting processes for patients and staff who encounter stigma, so that we can address stigma where it occurs
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Carry out a follow-up evaluation to monitor and measure the impact of this work
Professor Derek Tracy, our Chief Medical Officer, who is leading on this work for the Trust says: “We want to be better. This is an important area, for our staff, for our patients. We want to be a learning organisation. Stigma still impacts the quality of life and psychological wellbeing of many people living with HIV. Becoming HIV Confident will enable patients and staff living with HIV to know that they can access our services, or work for us, with confidence and without fear of discrimination.”
Why is it important to tackle stigma?
The highest numbers of people living with HIV in the UK reside in Lambeth and Southwark, with similarly high rates in Lewisham and Croydon.
The fear of experiencing stigma and discrimination can discourage people from accepting HIV testing (leading to late diagnosis, and poorer health outcomes), engaging with HIV care (leading to poor adherence to treatment), and accessing other kinds of healthcare. By increasing confidence in and within healthcare services we can help to ensure that people living with HIV can access the best possible care that meets their needs across SLaM services.
Despite the huge advances in the treatment of HIV, meaning someone on effective treatment can live a long and healthy life and cannot pass the virus on through sex, many people living with HIV report being treated differently to other patients and experiencing discrimination within healthcare.
We need to ensure that healthcare staff have the confidence to work with and support people living with HIV in a way which is not stigmatising and delivers the best care for that person.
