Press release - 19 February 2004

Consultation launch on AIDS support grant

Patients, the public and voluntary sector organisations are being asked for their views about some proposed changes to the way the AIDS Support Grant is distributed in Brighton and Hove.

Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust, which plans and pays for sexual health and HIV prevention, treatment and care support services funded from the AIDS Support Grant, has to review the AIDS Support Grant because of changes in the way services are being provided and changes in the needs of people with HIV and AIDS.

Central to this is a review of the AIDS Support Grant funding formula carried out by the Department of Health. The formula is being changed to take account of the needs of women and children infected or affected by HIV as well as other groups includinggay men.

The new funding formula means a potential overall reduction of up to 26% for 2004/05 (subject to confirmation by the Department of Health). (See notes to editors).

Independent consultants have carried out a review of services currently funded by the AIDS Support Grant and produced a draft written report and a 'map' of how they suggest services should be set up in future.

The report recommends:

The introduction of social care assessments for all intensive and longer term services, which could mean some people currently accessing services would need to be assessed to see if they meet the eligibility criteria
More partnership working, such as sharing premises and staff
That a given service should be only offered by one provider organisation, rather than several organisations providing the same service at present
Reducing or stopping "contribution funding" from the AIDS Support Grant to services that are already funded to deliver the service as part of their core work
Looking at home care services rather than services being premises based
Ensuring HIV services empower people with HIV to make positive choices and do not foster dependency
Ensuring services meet the needs of new populations - women and children as well as gay men

Copies of the report are being distributed to all agencies involved in HIV and AIDS services, and are available on request. Public meetings are also being held, the next being Wednesday 3 March 2004 at the Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, 6pm to 9 pm

Wednesday 10 March is the closing date for the public consultation process. A decision will be announced in April.

Graham Taylor, Lead Commissioner for Sexual Health and HIV Services at Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust, said:

"Brighton and Hove has the highest prevalence of diagnosed HIV infection outside London, we continue to see considerable increases in the numbers of people living with HIV and all services are reporting increasing pressures.

"We need to be clear what services we think are the top priority and how we should fund them. The report is intended to stimulate debate on how we can best respond to the challenges we face, so it is essential that we receive as many comments as possible during this public consultation process."

Notes for news editors

Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust is part of the NHS. It is responsible for the health of people in the city, for tackling health inequalities and for bringing health and social care more closely together. It holds the NHS budget, steers the work of GPs and makes sure hospital services are in place to meet local people's needs.

The Aids Support Grant (ASG) is used to provide social care support to people with HIV. Brighton and Hove has received:

2002/03 = 437,000
2003/04 = 425,000
2004/05 = To be confirmed by Department of Health

It was used to fund the following local services:

Citizens Advice Bureau
Brighton Lesbian & Gay Switchboard
Brighton Body Positive
Money Advice
Terence Higgins Trust
Open Door
Sussex Beacon Day Care
Brighton and Hove City Council (Housing)
Brighton and Hove Federation for the Disabled
Social Care Specialist Team

Independent consultants Starfish were commissioned to review the current system. Their report is available to view via the Starfish website www.starfishconsulting.co.uk/asg

Written responses can be sent to:

review@starfishconsulting.co.uk

Jackie Gallagher
Starfish Consulting Ltd
6 Yukon Court
London
SW12 9PU

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