Publications

To produce this report, MEDFASH led a team of experts from the Health Protection Agency, UK and St George's, University of London, including members of the eSTI2 Consortium.

The report focuses on novel approaches to testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) that are relevant for the prevention and control of these infections at EU/EEA level. It provides an overview of recent advances and identifies the opportunities and challenges they present for the diagnosis of infections and more broadly for public health.

'Novel approaches' captures both technical advances in STI, HIV, HBV and HCV tests as well as new opportunities for initiating and conducting testing and managing results, treatment and surveillance that are facilitated by recent changes in technology.

Local authorities will take over the commissioning of sexual health services as part of their new responsibility for public health in April 2013. This short briefing paper explains from a local perspective the benefits of investing in sexual and reproductive health improvement and HIV prevention, and sets out a checklist for local action by elected members and members of Health and Wellbeing Boards. 

The paper was jointly produced by MEDFASH with other national charities Brook, FPA, National AIDS Trust and Terrence Higgins Trust, and the professional membership bodies the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, the British HIV Association, the Faculty for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the National HIV Nurses Association.

The first ever Standards for psychological support for adults living with HIV in the UK were published in 2011 by MEDFASH with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and British HIV Association (BHIVA).

Produced in response to the recommendations of a 2010 National AIDS Trust report on the mental health needs of people with HIV, the Standards are endorsed by eight major professional organisations represented on the working party which guided their development.

The Standards describe the support that all adults living with HIV should expect to receive, from a wide range of professional groups, peers and informal providers, to enhance their mental health and their cognitive, emotional and behavioural wellbeing. They focus on:

• the promotion of mental health and wellbeing
• the early detection of psychological difficulties and
• the provision of appropriate interventions for those who need them.

A valuable tool for both providers and commissioners, the Standards support the development and maintenance of high quality, cost-effective services and care pathways for adults living with HIV.

An educational grant from Abbott has supported the development of this publication. Abbott has had no editorial input or involvement in its production. Additional contributions were received from BHIVA, the FacHIV&SH (BPS) and MEDFASH.

A limited number of hard copies are available at  £2.50 per copy for postage and packing - please email enquiries@medfash.bma.org.uk

You can download the Standards for psychological support for adults living with HIV free from this site as a pdf (file size 1.4Mb).

By Dr Sara Madge, Dr Philippa Matthews, Dr Surinder Singh and Dr Nick Theobald.

Revised and updated for 2011, this 120-page, full-colour illustrated booklet provides essential information for GPs and the primary healthcare team on the clinical diagnosis of HIV; how to offer an HIV test and give results; primary healthcare for people with HIV, including reproductive health and immunisation; the side-effects of antiretroviral therapy, potential drug interactions and how to complement specialist care; and practice policies and systems for optimal patient care and protection of staff.

Written by GPs, HIV in Primary Care is instructive, practical and easy to use with a detailed contents list and comprehensive index.

You can download a free pdf of HIV in Primary Care (file size 3Mb). For printed copies, discounts apply to bulk orders - please email us for details at enquiries @medfash.bma.org.uk

The aim of this guidance commissioned by ECDC is to support governments across Europe in increasing rates of HIV testing and in monitoring and evaluating their programmes for maximum effectiveness. It contains core principles for developing and implementing national HIV testing strategies. 

The guidance is supported by an evidence synthesis which reviews the scientific literature on the evidence for strategies to overcome barriers to HIV testing. A shorter ‘in brief’ version of the guidance is also available.

Download evidence synthesis

Download guidance in brief

These standards bring together for the first time the key elements of best practice that people seeking help in relation to STIs are entitled to expect, whichever service they choose to attend. The effective management of STIs, as specified in the standards, will improve health outcomes for individuals, protect the broader public health and contain costs to the NHS.

The standards are formally endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Nursing, the Health Protection Agency, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the Society of Sexual Health Advisers and the Genito-Urinary Nurses Association, all of whom were represented on the project advisory group.

A limited number of hard copies of the standards, service user guide and poster are available from BASHH. Please contact them via their website for further details.

Available to download as print version (for printing onto A3 double-sided to be folded to A4) or electronic version (for websites).

Download pdf (for print - A3 recommended)

Download pdf (for websites)

A poster summarising the standards for display in clinic waiting rooms and other public settings. To download for printing (recommended A3).

This is a comprehensive teaching pack for HIV-specialist clinicians or other ‘HIV champions’ who are engaged in educating their non-HIV specialist colleagues about the need to increase HIV testing rates. It includes the popular MEDFASH booklet, HIV for non-HIV specialists.

A few printed packs with data sticks also available - please email enquiries@medfash.bma.org.uk.

 Visit Tackling HIV Testing resource pack

The first of three reports of the first sexual health needs assessment and service mapping for London.  This project was managed by MEDFASH for the London Sexual Health Programme in 2008, in partnership with the London Health Observatory (LHO) and Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The second of three reports of the first sexual health needs assessment and service mapping for London. This project was managed by MEDFASH for the London Sexual Health Programme in 2008, in partnership with the London Health Observatory (LHO) and Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The third of three reports of the first sexual health needs assessment and service mapping for London.  This project was managed by MEDFASH for the London Sexual Health Programme in 2008, in partnership with the London Health Observatory (LHO) and Health Protection Agency (HPA).

This booklet complements the UK guidelines for HIV testing 2008 which are included as an appendix.  It contains sections for different medical specialties with full-colour illustrations to aid diagnosis.  Instructive, practical and easy to use with a detailed contents list and comprehensive index.

Free for healthcare professionals in England working in secondary care, but we charge for postage and packing on orders over 9 copies or from outside England. Please email us for a quote or to order at enquiries@medfash.bma.org.uk.

The Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV commissioned MEDFASH to undertake a review of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV. The review report highlights the changing context since the strategy's publication in 2001, outlines progress to date and identifies drivers and barriers to the strategy's implementation. It provides recommendations in five strategic priority areas for action at local, regional and national level.

Download executive summary

A toolkit for commissioners and providers outlining measures that can be implemented quickly, drawing on learning from the national review of GUM services managed by MEDFASH.

These Recommended standards for sexual health services cover 10 aspects of service provision, including guidance on service networks. Recommendations for detecting and managing sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive advice and provision, pregnancy testing and support, and abortion service provision are complemented by others on cross-cutting topics such as sexual health promotion, empowering and involving people who use services, identifying sexual health needs, access to services and the protection and use of sexual health information. Each standard offers an evidence-guided rationale, key interventions, implications for service planning, guidance on practice, and suggested audit indicators.

For providers, commissioners and service users.

Printed copies still available - please email enquiries@medfash.bma.org.uk. There is a charge for postage and packing on orders of 2 copies or more.

Endorsed by the Department of Health, the British HIV Association and the National Association of NHS Providers of AIDS Care and Treatment.

The Recommended standards for NHS HIV services cover 12 aspects of service provision for people with HIV and offer guidance on managed service networks. Each standard offers an evidence-based rationale, key interventions, implications for service planning, guidance on practice and suggested audit indicators. Reading lists for supporting evidence, policy documents and professional guidelines are appended.

Find out more about the BHIVA new standards

The report presented a series of recommendations arising from the project and a short list of learning points about facilitating factors and barriers to networking. With introductory sections describing the genesis of the project and the fast-changing policy context, the body of the report discussed the findings from interviews and workshops with service providers, users and commissioners in the South East (Surrey, Sussex and Kent), West and North Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the South West.