Our clients and their needs

In 2010, there were 6,136 new diagnoses of HIV, contributing to a cumulative total of 114,766 cases reported by the end of December 2010.

• Of those living with HIV in the UK and accessing HIV specialist care, more people were infected through heterosexual sex than through sex between men.
• The number of people accessing HIV specialist care has increased every year in the last decade, from 20,099 in 1999 to 65,319 in 2009. This is an increase of over three-fold.
• Over half of people accessing HIV specialist care in the UK are white, and over a third are black African.
• 43% of all people living with HIV and being seen for HIV care are aged between 30 and 44, but there are significant numbers both of young people and older people now living with HIV.
  
  SOPHID Table ARTUK: Numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the United Kingdom (UK), by country and SHA of residence and antiretroviral therapy: 2009.

Besides the ongoing increase in HIV cases in the UK, there are serious challenges that have a significant impact on individual patients as well as the health of the nation;

• A reduction in public awareness about HIV prevention and transmission.
• Ongoing stigma and discrimination (socially, institutionally and in mainstream press) of people living with HIV.
• Loss of vital specialised voluntary sector services due to government budget reductions.
• GPs are to take on a greater role in the commissioning and provision of care but may lack specialist training or experience in HIV.
• Vulnerable groups affected by HIV continue to have worse health outcomes – these include men who have sex with men, and black Africans.