William Eichler 14 January 2019

Council chiefs welcome decision to expand PrEP trial

Local authority leaders have said they are ‘pleased’ with NHS England’s decision to expand the trial of a drug that could ‘significantly’ reduce levels of HIV.

NHS England has announced that it will expand the PrEP Impact Trial to 26,000 by 2020 because of a high demand for the drug.

PrEP - or HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis - is a medicine for HIV negative people. It is taken before sex and can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.

The impact trial will help to determine how many people need PrEP, how many will want to take it and for how long, before a full national rollout of the drug.

The trial initially had 13,000 participants who are at a high risk of HIV. However, NHS England has increased the number of places because demand for PrEP has ‘significantly exceeded initial expert predictions’.

‘The trial researchers have submitted a case for increasing trial places and NHS England will play its part in delivering on this recommendation by committing to fund additional places in line with existing funding arrangements,’ said John Stewart, director of specialised commissioning at NHS England.

‘This will help ensure the learning from the trial is robust enough to fully inform the planning of a national PrEP programme in partnership with local authorities for the future, as well as protecting more people from HIV right now.’

Responding to the news, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘We are pleased that NHS England has decided to fund the expansion of this successful trial of PrEP, ahead of a planned national rollout as part of our united approach to defeat the spread of HIV.

‘Councils have invested hundreds of millions of pounds in providing sexual health services since taking over responsibility for public health five years ago, and we firmly believe that PrEP could significantly reduce levels of HIV.’

‘This needs to be further supported by reversing the £600m of public health cuts planned to 2020 as a matter of urgency, to build upon existing prevention measures while also ensuring that other sexual health services are not stretched too thinly to accommodate this extra capacity,’ he added.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
We are looking for social workers who have completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join our Families First teams, working with our Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 (Pre-Progression) / Grade 11 £40,777 - £45,091 (Post-Progression)
Are you a nurturing social worker passionate about supporting parents so that children can remain with their birth family?     This could be the right Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administrative Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 4 £25,583 - £26,824
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Administrative Officer to join our busy, friendly team, supporting Children and Young People’s Services. 1 x Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Play Worker

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Lunchtime Play Worker Grade 1 £24,796 pro rata Part Time - 6.25 hour per week, Monday – Friday
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner