Councillors spur action on city HIV/AIDS budget cuts
Brighton and Hove councillors have called on the local NHS to report on the impact of budget cuts into HIV/AIDS services in the city.
Spending on HIV/AIDS services in the city has fallen from £437,000 in 2002/03 to £307,380 for this financial year (2006/7) and represents a cut of 30% if inflation is included.
In November, Green councillors Bill Randall and Simon Williams asked the council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) to consider the issue.
The committee has agreed that the NHS Primary Care Trust which commissions HIV services should report back to HOSC’s next meeting on 28 February.
Councillor Bill Randall said, “We’re very pleased that the council has agreed to look at this important issue and that the Primary Care Trust will give us the latest information on the problem.
“While it’s a national funding formula which has caused the reduction in the grant, if we are to lobby for Brighton and Hove to receive a fairer funding deal, we need to know the impact on services and the people who use them in the city.”
He added: “If it’s felt necessary, the committee could set up a scrutiny panel of councillors to examine the issue in more detail but we will see what the NHS says first.”
The Green councillors also proposed a motion condemning the cuts at a full meeting of the city council which was passed unanimously with support from all parties.
