MPs say NHS is 'failing' patients living with HIV

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on HIV and AIDS has said that the failure to address the mental-health needs of people with HIV could lead to an increase in infections.

Previous research has shown that people with HIV are twice as likely to experience mental-health difficulties. And in those with depression, support raises adherence to medication by 83 per cent.

However, MPs say that most HIV clinics have no mental-health professionals on staff which could be reversing progress made over the past decade toward ending the epidemic in the UK. Their report argues that, unless serious mental-health treatment shortfalls are addressed, the government will fail to achieve its target of zero transmissions by 2030.

The APPG on HIV and AIDS also warns that outdated attitudes continue to affect the clinical treatment of HIV in the UK, despite significant developments over the last few decades. Continued local funding cuts also mean that some people living with HIV are relying on generic mental-health services inadequate for their needs.

Stephen Doughty, who chairs the APPG on HIV and Aids, said that there needs to be a greater understanding of living with a stigmatised health condition, which should, ultimately, be reflected in a new national HIV strategy.