NHS lifts ban on HIV staff

The government’s decision to lift a ban on HIV positive NHS workers performing surgery has been hailed as a “victory for common sense” by public sector union UNISON.

Under the previous rules, healthcare workers receiving treatment for HIV that made them not infectious were banned from performing many surgical procedures, but the ban will now be lifted for staff receiving combination and anti-retroviral drug treatment and undergoing regular monitoring. No patient in Britain has ever been infected with HIV by a health worker.

Chief medical officer Sally Davies said that with current guidelines and treatments for HIV now available the risk of transmission was absolutely negligible.

Sara Gorton, UNISON deputy head of health, said the union has campaigned long and hard for the regulations to be based on evidence rather than misinformed, often homophobic, prejudice.

The announcement was, she said: “Good for patients in that the NHS will not be wasting the skills and expertise of highly trained staff, and good for staff as they will now be free to practice and use their hard earned skills and expertise.”

“Lifting the ban also represents a further step in removing the outdated stigma and prejudice around HIV.”

www.unison.org.uk/content/conNewsArticle/4111

www.gov.uk/government/news/modernisation-of-hiv-rules-to-better-protect-public