Comments on: UNIVERSAL AIDS TREATMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THOSE LIVING IN THE UK! http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/ A national network of student societies across the UK, who form the Student Stop AIDS Campaign Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:06:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: BSMS Stop AIDS http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-1010 BSMS Stop AIDS Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:22:55 +0000 http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-1010 With reference to the Yates paper, it appears that they have cited old versions of NHS guidelines and somewhat complicated the issue by trying to or at least covering in variable depth ALL the issues surrounding eligibility for absolutely everything in just several pages! They do however make very important points concerning EU legislation, a massive set of laws so complicated it takes law students years to understand them. In an attempt to summarise EU legislation, public authorities like the NHS have the responsibility and legal obligation of implementing Convention Rights namely Article 3, Prohibition of Torture via the Human Rights Act (1998), which states that this prohibition of torture is irrespective of the country of origin for the individual... The example of a Trust telling a patient with a GI complaint that he should wait until it is more serious (i.e. until he is eligibile for "emergency treatment") would be a violation of Article 3, the NHS as the public authority being liable. Our paper makes no reference to EU law because you would really need to write a book to do it justice! And then there's UN conventions, treaties, covenants etc., it has to stop somewhere! With reference to the Yates paper, it appears that they have cited old versions of NHS guidelines and somewhat complicated the issue by trying to or at least covering in variable depth ALL the issues surrounding eligibility for absolutely everything in just several pages! They do however make very important points concerning EU legislation, a massive set of laws so complicated it takes law students years to understand them. In an attempt to summarise EU legislation, public authorities like the NHS have the responsibility and legal obligation of implementing Convention Rights namely Article 3, Prohibition of Torture via the Human Rights Act (1998), which states that this prohibition of torture is irrespective of the country of origin for the individual… The example of a Trust telling a patient with a GI complaint that he should wait until it is more serious (i.e. until he is eligibile for “emergency treatment”) would be a violation of Article 3, the NHS as the public authority being liable.
Our paper makes no reference to EU law because you would really need to write a book to do it justice! And then there’s UN conventions, treaties, covenants etc., it has to stop somewhere!

]]> By: BSMS Stop AIDS http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-995 BSMS Stop AIDS Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:24:13 +0000 http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-995 I actually brought this up with my own MP (at Parliament last Thursday) who is also an Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office and he told me he would get an official response from the government for me. I'll post it here when it arrives. A few of us are doing a load of research into this with a view to writing an article for a student medical journal, Given that there has been little mention since 2005 in the medical student journals, we thought it was about time for an update on the debate. If anyone would like to get involved (esp. Leeds and Nottingham) e-mail me. Chris I actually brought this up with my own MP (at Parliament last Thursday) who is also an Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office and he told me he would get an official response from the government for me. I’ll post it here when it arrives. A few of us are doing a load of research into this with a view to writing an article for a student medical journal, Given that there has been little mention since 2005 in the medical student journals, we thought it was about time for an update on the debate. If anyone would like to get involved (esp. Leeds and Nottingham) e-mail me.

Chris

]]> By: Leeds http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-965 Leeds Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:20:52 +0000 http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-965 Yeah, it is true that HIV has not been classified as an STI under the free healthcare provided for failed asylum seekerd. They therefore can not claim treatment, though they can be tested and get associated councilling. This is to probably a lot to do with costs but also the other reasons I said above, such as health asylum which the government probably fears.(though there is no real evidence for this) If the goverment proposed changes to block access to primary care as well goes ahead they will not be able to access this service and therefore have HIV tests to know their status. This could have unwanted public health impacts and increased costs to the NHS in the long term Pregnant women however should recieve drugs to prevent MTCT free of charge, regardless of their immigration status because as you point out it does not just effect her. Sorry, I am not an expert on this but there is loads of info out there. A good paper id Yates, T., Crane, R., Burnett, A., "rights and the reality of healthcare charging in the United Kingdom." Medicine, Conflict and Survival October 2007 Oh, forgot to say there are various groupd that offer health services to volunerable peopel, such as the homeless without addresses and often many undocumented migrants. The NHS has a health Access Team which does specifically this, and other charitie and NGOs offer support in various ways. Yeah, it is true that HIV has not been classified as an STI under the free healthcare provided for failed asylum seekerd. They therefore can not claim treatment, though they can be tested and get associated councilling. This is to probably a lot to do with costs but also the other reasons I said above, such as health asylum which the government probably fears.(though there is no real evidence for this)

If the goverment proposed changes to block access to primary care as well goes ahead they will not be able to access this service and therefore have HIV tests to know their status. This could have unwanted public health impacts and increased costs to the NHS in the long term
Pregnant women however should recieve drugs to prevent MTCT free of charge, regardless of their immigration status because as you point out it does not just effect her.

Sorry, I am not an expert on this but there is loads of info out there. A good paper id
Yates, T., Crane, R., Burnett, A., “rights and the reality of healthcare charging in the United Kingdom.” Medicine, Conflict and Survival October 2007

Oh, forgot to say there are various groupd that offer health services to volunerable peopel, such as the homeless without addresses and often many undocumented migrants. The NHS has a health Access Team which does specifically this, and other charitie and NGOs offer support in various ways.

]]> By: Catriona- Nottingham http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-960 Catriona- Nottingham Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:14:53 +0000 http://www.stopaidssocieties.org.uk/2007/10/universal-aids-treatment-should-include-those-living-in-the-uk/#comment-960 I have exactly the same feelings. Do you have any links to organisations that specialise in treatment for immigrants? Just to add a little to you discussion above, i read the other day that illegal immigrants have access to treatment for other STI's but not HIV/AIDS (I assume this is due to the cost), like you I have mixed feelings about this. However I know that under this same law pregnant HIV positive women are not allowed treatment that allow the transmission of the virus to the child to be prevented. I feel strongly that this is wrong, surely a baby should be given the chance to a healthy life where possible and not be a victim of circumstance. I have exactly the same feelings. Do you have any links to organisations that specialise in treatment for immigrants? Just to add a little to you discussion above, i read the other day that illegal immigrants have access to treatment for other STI’s but not HIV/AIDS (I assume this is due to the cost), like you I have mixed feelings about this. However I know that under this same law pregnant HIV positive women are not allowed treatment that allow the transmission of the virus to the child to be prevented. I feel strongly that this is wrong, surely a baby should be given the chance to a healthy life where possible and not be a victim of circumstance.

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