FRONTLINE HIV Forum Meeting December 2010

FRONTLINE HIV Forum Meetings:
Members: General Members Forum held at The Kobler Clinic, 4th Floor
Date: 7th December 2010
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Attendees: 7
Apologies: 2

The next ordinary meeting of the Forum will be held at the Kobler Clinic, Tuesday 1st February on the 4th Floor of the St Stephens Centre, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

This document details the discussions held by the Frontline Forum members at the last meeting. They are not complete minutes, more notes or points loosely captured in no particular order; apologies for points missed. Many thanks go to those who participated, and well as to those who continue to contribute through the online forum.

Social Events
The proposal for away day social events is ready to be submitted to the Monument Trust for approval.

These events are:-

April/May
Thursday evening dinner at River House with African cuisine.

Summer
A river cruise to Greenwich followed by lunch.

Autumn
National Portrait Gallery visit followed by sightseeing tour.

January 2012
Thursday evening post holiday New Years party at River House.
NB. Thursday evening was chosen as this incurs no overtime staff cost at River House.

Designation of Services
Due to the need to recognise the rationalisation of in-patient services some smaller clinics may be closing. Only clinics which can provide 24 hour services and admissions may survive.

Meeting of THT and NAT Membership
Several meetings are taking place with these organisations on how to manage the budget deficit, and about benefit issues, which affect PLHIV, i.e. people living with HIV.

Urgent Care Centre
There is still concern with confidentiality issues which are arising now. A forum member is to attend a meeting with the Foundation Trust to try to resolve this and challenge the admission procedure set in place by the PCT.

Feedback from a Forum Link meeting established that there is a precedent in Europe against this type of admission procedure. An HIV positive person from Finland whose confidentiality was breached was successful, after litigation, receiving a considerable sum in damages.

The premise should be the need to err on the side of caution, in that when people are going to Accident and Emergency they are in pain or distressed and may not be able to negotiate whether they can opt in or out of agreeing to share information with GP’s.

The T-Cell website and Forum Links and UK CAB are to put out testimonials to highlight these issues of confidentiality.

Rapid Review Clinic
The Rapid Review Clinic with telephone triage commences on the 10th January 2011. Repeat prescriptions will still be at Out-Patients.

Unlicensed Drug
The forum is to petition Dr.Catalan to see if the prescribing of an unlicensed drug to treat HIV chronic fatigue may be allowed.

Law Clinic at River House
A forum member enquired as to the scope of the Law Clinic which is to be provided by The River House. Will it provide the service to only members of the River House, pan London, or UK wide? A subsequent discussion with Kathryn Dombrowitcz, director of The River House Trust, ascertained that this service is open to all people living with HIV. However, it may only be practicable to people living in London because of the nature of how it will work. An applicant for the service, unless already a River House member, will have to provide written evidence of their HIV status. After their status has been confirmed they will be given a telephone number and a date when they can phone a student from Birkbeck College, University of London, who as part of their studies, will listen to their concern and take their details, then make an appointment for them with a solicitor from the firm of H.C.L.Hanne & Company, who are providing this service free.

This service will provide vital help for PLHIV who may be experiencing unlawful discrimination in the workplace, in matters arising with housing and other areas.

Young People with HIV
Concern was raised with the issue of young people presenting with HIV. It was felt that this cohort was under-represented. A representative from the forum is to join up with young people to offer support and advice and to encourage them to take an interest in their health. Help would be given to get them to form their own group. The forum wishes to organize an event about general issues regarding HIV for this cohort of young people.