Latest HIV figures for North West show substantial rise in cases

ON the 25 August 2009, the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, and the Health Protection Agency (North West) release new figures on HIV/AIDS in the North West of England.

The main findings are:-

· Overall, the total number of HIV positive people accessing treatment and care in the North West in 2008 reached the highest level ever at 5,767; an 11% increase on 2007 (5,212; table 1).

· There was a substantial increase in the number of new HIV cases reported in the region, a reversal of the downward trend observed in 2006 and 2007. There was a 13% increase in the number of cases new to the monitoring system in 2008 (925, up from 817 in 2007; table 2).

· The numbers of new cases infected through sex between men, injecting drug use and heterosexual sex have all increased since 2007.

· In 2008, the predominant modes of exposure to HIV for new cases were heterosexual sex (446 individuals; 48%) and sex between men (382 individuals; 41%).

· Forty-two percent of new cases were reported to be infected abroad, the majority of whom (74%) were black African.

An increasing proportion of individuals in treatment and care for HIV in the region were from black and minority ethnic communities (34% of total cases). This is an over-representation, since individuals from black and minority ethnic communities make up only 8% of the North West population as a whole.

Dr Penny A. Cook, Reader in Public Health Epidemiology and co-author of the report, notes:- “HIV continues to have the biggest effect on people in our most vulnerable communities. However, infection with HIV is no longer a life sentence. People who think they may be at risk need to be tested in order to benefit from lifesaving treatment if necessary”

Professor Qutub Syed, Director, Health Protection Agency North West, said:- “It is encouraging that more people with HIV infection are seeking treatment and care, but hugely disappointing that we are seeing an increase in new cases, reversing recent trends. This would seem to imply that more people are putting themselves and their partners at risk by failing to be careful about their lifestyles. We and our partners at Liverpool John Moores University and elsewhere have tried very hard to get across the message that unprotected sex with new or multiple partners and the sharing of needles by drug users are high risk activities. We must now redouble our efforts to ensure that our advice is reaching vulnerable groups because HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections are avoidable and every new case of AIDS is a tragedy.”

Dr Mike Deakin, Associate Director of Public Health in the North West, said:- "The fact that there is a rise in the number of people being diagnosed as having been infected with HIV is very disappointing. However, there is a great deal of good work going on across the North West to reduce the rate of HIV infection, as well as to encourage people, who may be at risk of being infected with HIV, to get tested for the virus. It is possible that some of the apparent increase in infection rates is actually due to these efforts to encourage people to get tested, in other words, we are diagnosing infection in people who would previously have been unaware of their infection. This is a good thing, as earlier identification leads to a better outlook for the person, as well as enabling them to take precautions, so as not to pass on the infection. These figures show that we must work even harder to help everybody to protect themselves from becoming infected. It is good news that there is a reduction in AIDS-related deaths from 9% of the total number of cases in 1996 to 0.5% in 2008, which is mainly due to the advances in antiretroviral therapy, along with the excellent clinical services being provided for these patients."

Professor Mark A. Bellis, Director of the Centre for Public Health and co-author of the report, comments:- “While Greater Manchester has the highest levels of HIV in the North West, continuing increases in Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire mean they are now experiencing similar rates of HIV to those seen in Manchester only 7 years ago. Better sexual health services and the promotion of safer sex remain our first lines of defence against the high levels of HIV already seen in some North West areas simply being repeated in others over the next decade.”

Click here to hear our interview with Dr Penny A. Cook.

Trust again asks for co-operation with smoking policy

ONCE again, Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is asking patients and visitors to co-operate with its request that they do not smoke on its premises. Since the Trust declared it was going Smokefree in January 2006, most people who smoke have abided by the request to not to do so in the buildings or grounds of both Ormskirk and Southport hospitals. However, there are a small number of people, both patients and visitors who insist on smoking in the grounds, mainly outside the entrances.

Sir Ron Watson, Chairman of the Trust said:- "I am looking for full co-operation from both visitors and patients to ensure that the whole site is smoke free and not littered with used cigarette butts. We do understand it is difficult for people to give up smoking and we can offer help with this, but it is nevertheless a problem as smoke drifts into the building through open windows disturbing those inside, sometimes even other patients."

If people would like help with stopping smoking they can contact the local Stop Smoking team on:- 0300 100 1000.

’NO SEX PLEASE, WE’RE BRITISH’, SAYS ONLINE DATING COMPANY, GLOBAL PERSONALS

TODAY, Women are increasingly using online dating companies to search for ‘traditional marriage partners’ rather than ‘casual sex encounters’, according to Global Personals, the online dating company.

While websites like MartialAffair.com, which link up married people to other married people looking for extra marital affairs is still healthy, the growth in the sector has been with traditional ’find a partner’ dating services like Singles365.com.

Whereas a year ago, 30% of women surveyed who use online dating services were prepared to ’have sex on the first date’, there has been a significant swing towards traditional searches for long term love.

“As things have got tough with the economy, there has been a significant shift away from the casual side to women more serious about love and commitment. So really a return to more traditional female and family values. I would say back to basics but that got John Major in too much trouble so I won’t!” says Global Personals CEO Ross Williams.

Statistics show that by 2011, the UK will have 15 million singles. The UK online dating marketplace has seen 20% year on year growth in the past year according to Neilsen and is now a £100m industry.

Do you agree? Email us now to news24@southportreporter.com with your views on this topic.

POLICE WARN PEOPLE ABOUT BOGUS TRADESMEN IN SOUTHPORT

MERSEYSIDE Police Neighbourhood Officers in Southport are warning people across the borough, particularly elderly and vulnerable residents, to be aware of bogus traders or random callers who may be operating in the area.

It follows a couple of incidents where elderly residents have been targeted by men posing as workmen who claim that building repairs need to be done to the property and demanding money in advance for the work.

Neighbourhood Insepctor, Neil Moss, said:- "Crimes of this nature are quite rare, but can cause great distress to the people that are targeted. It is important that we catch these men so that no other members of the community are affected.  While many door to door callers may be genuine, it is important to be certain. To ensure people don't become a victim of confidence tricksters or thieves there are some simple actions that they can take such as install a viewer or spy hole and a chain on their door, ask to see the identity card of anyone who calls and, if there is any doubt, ring the company they say they work for.  It is very important never to give any money in advance of repair work being done.  If anyone suspects a caller of not being genuine they should contact the police immediately. Anyone with any information about bogus traders in the Southport area should contact:- 0151 709 6010 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111."