Thank you to those who have contacted me about ending the HIV epidemic in the UK. I pay tribute to the tireless work of the Terrence Higgins Trust, and other campaigners, who are fighting to wipeout new cases of HIV by 2030.
There are just six years to go until this 2030 target, and only one Parliament in which to achieve it. The previous Government introduced the national HIV action plan in 2022, with the aim of reducing new infections by 80% by 2025, and ending infections and deaths from HIV by 2030. This plan was only achievable if it was properly implemented. I believe a new and refreshed plan, under this newly elected government, is required to make this goal a reality.
I support this Government’s manifesto commitment to commission a new HIV action plan. I also believe we must make a success of the rolling out of opt-out testing to areas of high HIV prevalence in the UK.
I am concerned by indications of rising inequalities in the rates of HIV diagnosis. This new plan must take into account those trends if it is going to succeed. I believe that this is an opportunity to reduce some of the UK’s stark health inequalities. We will tackle the social determinants of health, and I support the ambitious Government target of halving the gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions in England. I believe we need to stop the chaos in our health and care services, turning the page, reforming them in line with the principles of the NHS.
