New advances in treatment for the Hepatitis C virus together with an update on HIV, drug-related deaths and how the NHS, primary care and third sector services can increase testing and awareness of blood borne viruses were just some of the topics to come under the microscope at a stakeholder education day arranged by the Sexual Health and Blood-Borne Virus Managed Care Network.
Around 90 delegates heard from a number of speakers including Prof John Dillon, Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist, NHS Tayside, Dr Kirsty Abu-Rajab, Sexual Health and HIV Consultant, NHS Forth Valley, Bibiana Zirra, African Health Project Worker, Waverley Care and Jardine Simpson, ASC Recovery Community.
The afternoon sessions involved workshops focusing on three themes:
- Vulnerable young people and their sexual health.
- The recent HIV outbreak in people who inject drugs (PWID) within the homeless population in Glasgow.
- Men who have sex with men (MSM) and Chem-sex.
The event ended with a round-up of the day and the way forward by Dr Pete Bramley, the MCN Clinical Lead, who highlighted the need to think outside the box, test and treat patients out with normal clinical settings such as in recovery cafes and reduce stigma around blood borne virus testing.
