At the Kobler clinic, we have top doctors and highly motivated staff. The NHS only put up less
than a quarter of the funds for our recent refurbishment of the clinic.
The bulk came from Crusaid. HIV/Aids is a very new and hugely successful
area of medicine, but we have a problem with success in this country.
WM: Anyone can basically still walk into any GUM clinic for testing and
treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) including HIV, but the
PCTs will now put up the money for these services according to local needs.
Theoretically, the cash should follow the patient, but I fear the rogue
PCT that digs in its heels and refuses to pay up. Things are bad are outside
London and in some London centres that don't have the advantages of the
Kobler. STD/HIV services in Watford are under threat of closure because
the local PCT is £8m in debt. In Bristol, it's taking 28 days to
get treatment for gonorrhoea.
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A Commissioner says:
David Cooper, Sexual Health and HIV Commissioner
for East Surrey PCT:
With primary care trusts inheriting huge deficits from the former health
authorities, it was inevitable that these new organisations were going
to look at their budgets with a fine tooth-comb. Only one month into the
new organisation, and it is becoming clear that I
am going to have to make difficult decisions on where the HIV prevention funding will go.
This is inevitably making me nervous about funding and of making any decisions on new HIV prevention developments until at least September.
