Problems associated with AIDS : response by the Government to the Third report from the Social Services Committee session 1986-87 / presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Social Services by command of Her Majesty January 1988.

  • Great Britain. Department of Health and Social Security.
Date:
1988
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Problems associated with AIDS : response by the Government to the Third report from the Social Services Committee session 1986-87 / presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Social Services by command of Her Majesty January 1988. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    National AIDS Trust 12 Recommendation 29 We recommend that the Government and other statutory agencies commit themselves to long-term funding for helplines throughout the country. 3.16 The Government fully acknowledges the importance of the voluntary sector in the fight against AIDS. DHSS grants in 1986-87 to voluntary bodies in the AIDS field amounted to just over £% million. Already in 1987-88 over £1% million has been committed under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, as well as central financial support for the National AIDS Helpline. This increase in Government spending reflects the view that voluntary sector bodies, like the Terrence Higgins Trust, have a vital role to play in complementing the efforts of statutory agencies in a whole range of fields including education, information, counselling and care and support of people with AIDS or HIV infection. The Government shares the Committee’s hope that voluntary bodies will work closely with the statutory agencies to build on what has been achieved. To promote a co-ordinated approach guidance has been given to health authorities about the need to devise plans for the provision of AIDS-related services in conjuction with local authorities and the voluntary sector. 3.17 The Government greatly appreciates the work of the Terrence Higgins Trust. In August 1987 it made the Trust a grant of £300,000 for 1987-88. This is nearly a three-fold increase over the previous year’s grant. It reflects the important work the Trust carries out in providing advice and information on a wide scale, and in supporting and counselling those with AIDS or HIV infection. The Trust has grown remarkably in just a few years. The size of the Government grant is a measure both of that achievement and of the importance of the work the Trust undertakes. 3.18 Work carried out by the Scottish AIDS Monitor in providing a telephone referral system, counselling and support is much appreciated too. The Government has substantially increased the Monitor’s grant to £46,400 for 1987-88 in recognition of the valuable service provided to the community. 3.19 The Government shares the Committee’s view that helplines play a valuable role. It has supported a 24 hour free telephone service for people wanting to talk in confidence with a trained advisor. The National AIDS Helpline has been enhanced by the recruitment of advisors from the ethnic minority communities and by the provision of in-service training to help its staff deal with enquiries about the drug-related risks of infection. The Helpline will continue to receive central financial support until at least the end of this financial year when its effectiveness in meeting needs will be evaluated and its future role considered in the light of future needs and this evaluation. It is for health authorities, local authorities and voluntary bodies, working together, to determine the needs for locally based AIDS helplines. Recommendation 90 We welcome the establishment of the National AIDS Trust, and wish it well. We trust, however, that its establishment does not mean that the Government sees the voluntary sector as the main focus for dealing with AIDS. Recommendation 72 We recommend that the new National AIDS Trust encourage housing associa- tions and charities to provide accommodation for those made homeless as a consequence of HIV. 3.20 The Government agrees with the Committee that voluntary effort cannot replace the role of statutory services. The intention is rather that the two should work together in providing an effective service in dealing with HIV infection and AIDS. The Government has provided financial support for the National AIDS Trust (NAT) which has been set up to promote and co-ordinate voluntary effort on AIDS, and to help fund-raise, and also to make grants. It is envisaged that the NAT will be seeking to promote links between voluntary and statutory bodies both at national and local level.