Pos people ‘won’t use GPs’
Government intervention is needed to make GPs services safe and accessible to people with HIV and teenagers, Dr William Ford-Young told the Sexual Health 2002 Conference in Leeds. “Insurers are no longer allowed to ask lifestyle questions, or refuse coverage if someone has had a negative HIV test”, he said: “But they still ask GPs about a large number of medical conditions - patients would be astonished how detailed those questions are.”
‘Medical students need PEP’
Medical schools should provide antiretrovirals for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to students working abroad, says a survey in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Five of the UK’s 23 medical schools do not provide PEP to students working abroad and only four of the schools offered free triple therapy packs to their students. Up to 3,000 British medical students opt to have an ‘elective’ year working abroad.
It’s hell getting into Heaven
An HIV positive woman and Positive Nation contributor had her anti-HIV drugs confiscated and was stopped and searched by security staff at the London gay nightclub Heaven last month. 33-year-old Susan Cole said her medications were in original packs and she was embarrassed in front of a queue of people entering the club. Boyz Magazine sent her a bunch of flowers by way of apology (the evening was for their relaunch party). Heaven was not available for comment as we went to press but this is not the first time that security staff at gay nightclubs have stopped people entering with HIV medications. Heaven was sold to its own management last month by Virgin boss Richard Branson, after 20 years of ownership.