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The survival of this information-providing capacity does depend on advertising - both drug company and community advertising. I don't think it's fair though, to suggest that this advertising is 'aggressive' and 'misleading'. The Advertising Standards Authority does not allow the advertising of prescription drugs directly to the public - and often demands changes in ads that appear to do so.
Regarding benefit inequalities: many organisations, including the UKC, Terrence Higgins Trust and the Citizens Advice Bureaux, are working on behalf of people with HIV to secure benefits and backdated payments where appropriate.
Retraining for individuals with HIV is available. Positive Futures (PF) is the London partnership of Chalk Farm Oasis, The Globe Centre, Positively Women, Terrence Higgins Trust/Lighthouse, and the UKC. PF aims to 'Empower People with HIV to realise their full potential'. It was set up to support people with HIV returning to work and education, through training and work placement schemes, and by advising employers on appropriate policies and procedures. Similar programmes are needed nationally.
You'll notice the amount of collaboration between projects here. Maybe in the past there was wasteful competition between different agencies. This is no longer useful, or even possible. As Simon Robbins, Chair of the London HIV Strategy Group says, "It is no longer an option for any one organisation, however large and well-funded, to try and offer all services to all people with HIV on its own."

We do not always get it right. That's why we always welcome your constructive criticism and ideas. The UKC is again asking you what you