Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to reduce levels of stigma experienced by people with HIV within the health and social care system.

The latest Positive Voices Report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in January 2024 made it clear that stigma continues to be experienced by people living with HIV.

HIV Prevention England, funded by the Department, hosted a HIV Stigma Symposium in March 2024 which brought together approximately 100 community experts, activists, healthcare professionals, and affected individuals to discuss the impact of HIV stigma. This showcased the innovation and effectiveness of stigma reduction strategies being implemented across the country.

The Department, the UKHSA, NHS England, and a broad range of system partners are developing a new HIV Action Plan which will include a focus on stigma. We aim to publish this by summer 2025.