To decommission the face-to-face HIV advocacy and social care support contract for people who live with a diagnosis of HIV.  To redirect people to local social care support (where they meet thresholds) and to national HIV-specific web, telephone and digital provision.  

That the original decision to cease funding to the HIV advocacy and support contract be rescinded pending further work to understand the impact on service users of changing the way advocacy and support is provided.

That following further discussions with providers of services for people who have a diagnosis of HIV, further work needs to be undertaken to understand more fully the impact of any changes to service users. 

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This decision will come into force and may be implemented immediately.

Commissioners and providers of HIV services, both in Torbay and further afield, are in agreement that changes are required to the way advocacy and support are delivered to people who have a diagnosis of HIV.  This is partly driven by improvements that people who are diagnosed with HIV continue to experience in their health and their life in general.  For instance, people who have a diagnosis of HIV can now live near normal life expectancy, if they adhere to their HIV medication. 

Commissioners acknowledge the trend whereby people with HIV are increasingly accessing support from peers and HIV experts online, attracted by the opportunity offered by the internet to remain anonymous.  Local data analysis provided by contract providers shows us that people in Torbay who have a diagnosis of HIV have particular concerns about disclosing their HIV status.

Local commissioners and stakeholders welcome the opportunity of reviewing current contractual provision of services in Torbay.  To more fully understand the impact on service users, further work is now proposed to take place collaboratively with contract providers and service users.

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