HIV charity pulls out of Shropshire over funding cuts

The Terrence Higgins Trust confirmed that it is was no longer operating in the region, closing its doors on March 31after 12 years working with residents.

But the South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has insisted that it will continue to maintain services across the county.

Spokesman for the charity that aims to see HIV eradicated, Matt Horwood, said: "We're no longer going to be running services in Shropshire as the trust is planning to bring their services in-house to make them more flexible."

The trust previously ran drop-in facilities at sites in Telford and Shrewsbury.

Rob Eyres, of Wellington based Telford After Care Team (TACT), said: "Terrence Higgins Trust has been hit by funding cuts like many charities, including us. We were aware that they were closing in Telford. They used to do a drop-in with us.

"A lot of people do also use the main clinic in Telford town centre.

Difficult

"The local authorities are getting squeezed around the country due to cutbacks. It is a very difficult situation. It's a shame that they've gone, but it's the lie of the land at this moment in time."

South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesman Paul Kumar said : "The foundation trust continues to provide safe and appropriate sexual health and HIV services to the population of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, as commissioned by Shropshire and Telford Councils and NHS England.

"Services are available from a variety of easy to access venues with a mixture of booked appointments and walk in and wait clinics across six days a week."

It added that patients are advised to check the SSSFT website - sssft.nhs.uk - for clinic and drop-in times for support with tests and contraception advice.

Meanwhile Terrence Higgins Trust held a farewell reception for staff, community and health service partners at the Roy Fletcher Centre, in Cross Hill ,Shrewsbury, ahead of its departure.

Its staff provided HIV screenings, finger prick blood tests, information sessions and organised fundraising drives.

In 2017 there was an 18 per cent drop in new HIV cases due to more effective treatment including advanced testing and a pre-exposure pill to prevent the virus spreading.