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…Standards and networks for NHS HIV services…

HIV service networks

Why we need them and how to make them work.

Five seminars: sharing learning, do's and don'ts

London ~ Friday 14th March 2003
Birmingham ~ Tuesday 18th March 2003
Taunton ~ Thursday 20th March 2003
Wigan ~ Monday 31st March 2003
Leeds ~ Tues 1st April 2003


Funded by: Department of Health, London health authorities, British HIV Association (BHIVA), National Association of NHS Providers of AIDS Care and Treatment (PACT)

The HIV service networks seminars were aimed at:
  • health and social care professionals providing services for people with HIV (statutory and voluntary sectors, HIV specialists, primary care and other services on the patient care pathway)
  • commissioners of HIV services and strategic health authority staff
  • HIV service users

The HIV service networks seminars aimed to increase participants' knowledge and understanding of service network development and how to utilise this approach in their work.

The HIV service networks seminars:

  • presented up-to-date information on the policy drivers for developing HIV service networks, including the forthcoming standards for NHS HIV services
  • provided opportunities to learn from experience of service network development within and beyond the HIV sector
  • discussed the practicalities of HIV service network development,
  • provided the chance to give views on MedFASH's draft practice guide to network development.


"All HIV practitioners will be expected to work within a managed service network"
National strategy for sexual health and HIV, Department of Health, 2001

"Networks provide a way in which service providers, commissioners and users can work together to plan and deliver services to meet standards of care."
Standards for NHS HIV services, Medical Foundation for AIDS & Sexual Health (MedFASH), draft for publication 2003