Written Statement: Supporting people with HIV in Wales

I am pleased to provide Members with a further update about how we are working to achieve our ambition of ending new transmissions of HIV in Wales by 2030 and ensuring all those who have HIV in Wales live well.

Since my last statement in November, which provided an update about the HIV Action Plan, I am today confirming ongoing funding to support the delivery of the plan over the remainder of its lifetime – a minimum of £4.7m a year will be available for the next two financial years. This will provide the stability needed to build on the good progress made to date and to strengthen collaboration. 

I am pleased to report testing rates are increasing, but we want to do more to make it as easy as possible for people to access testing. Within the funding package, £3.9m a year will continue to be allocated for our free and confidential online testing programme. This free service supports the provision of 40,000 at-home HIV tests a year. The funding will expand the provision of testing kits in local communities – we have already distributed nearly 16,000 community testing kits in settings throughout Wales. 

We also want to improve access and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – this is a medicine which, when taken as prescribed, reduces the risk of contracting HIV through sex by 99%. I have agreed that an alternative form of PrEP will be made routinely available for those who, for clinical reasons, cannot take the current available form.

We need to continue to raise awareness of the importance of testing, awareness of PrEP for those who are at risk and re-enforce key messages, including that people who are on effective treatment cannot pass HIV onto others. Funding will be allocated to support this campaign work. 

I am determined Wales will become a Fast Track Nation with all seven health board areas signed up to the Paris Declaration. Five health boards have signed so far – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is the latest. To help us reach this goal and strengthen collaboration, engagement and the sharing of best practice, funding will also be allocated to support an all-Wales coalition. 

We want people who have HIV to live well. There are approximately 2,800 people living with HIV in Wales. We will build on the range of support already available and fund a national peer support programme. 

In addition to this funding package, there are a range of health and social care research funds that can and do support this agenda. Health Care Research Wales recently announced £3m for a Wales Applied Virology Unit and nearly £230,000 will be allocated to extend the ‘text for testing’ research pilot to GP surgeries in parts of Wales.

I will continue to keep members updated about our progress to deliver this key Programme for Government commitment, and our ultimate goal to end new transmissions of HIV in Wales by 2030 and ensure people who have HIV in Wales live well.