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THT pilot HIV testing ‘on demand’ to gay and bisexual men in Eastbourne

To mark National HIV Testing Week, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is running a pilot ‘on demand’ testing service for gay and bisexual men in Eastbourne.

Terrence HIggins Trust

ON FRIDAY, November 28 from 5pm – 9pm, and Saturday, November 29 from 1pm – 5pm, gay and bisexual men within the postcodes of BN20 – BN23 will be able to contact the charity’s Eastbourne centre on (01323) 649927 to request a test.

A member of the Avenue House sexual health clinic will then travel to their home and carry out a rapid HIV test, accompanied by a Terrence Higgins Trust worker.

Testing is free and confidential, and involves a finger-prick blood test, with results available within 15 minutes. Those taking a test will be given information and support before and after the test, and anyone who tests positive will be referred quickly to a specialist clinic.

Should someone prefer not to test at home, testing can be arranged by appointment at any of the following venues during the same times:

• Terrence Higgins Trust, Dyke House, 110 South Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4LZ

• The Hart Pub, 89 Cavendish Pl, Eastbourne, BN21 3RR

• Avenue House Sexual Health Clinic, The Avenue, Eastbourne BN21 3XY
National HIV Testing Week was established by THT and HIV Prevention England in 2012, in a bid to reduce high levels of undiagnosed and late-diagnosed HIV among gay and bisexual men and Africans in England. In 2012, there were an estimated 6,587 people living with HIV in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, one in five of whom remain undiagnosed and therefore more likely to pass the virus on unwittingly. Gay and bisexual men remain the group most affected by HIV in the UK.

Daniel Murray, Centre Manager for Terrence Higgins Trust in East Sussex, said: “National HIV Testing Week gives us a great opportunity to draw attention to how quick and easy modern tests are. That’s why this year we’re thrilled to be taking our testing service out to local gay and bisexual men ‘on demand’. There are far more reasons to know your HIV status than there are not to, so if it’s been a while since your last test, please contact the team to make an appointment, or visit your nearest testing service.”

Gay and bisexual men and Africans in Suffolk can visit www.startswithme.org.uk to register their support for National HIV Testing Week, find their nearest testing service, or order a postal HIV test kit.

 

 

 

Taking M.E. Seriously

Colin Barton, Chairman of Sussex ME Society says “People with ME do not ask for special treatment only that equal to others with chronic neurological conditions.”

Colin Barton
Colin Barton

I HAVE been involved in the medical field of Myalgic encephalopathy (ME) or Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for over 28 years now and have seen many positive changes both in the recognition and treatment of the illness(s).

Amazingly though we still hear of a few professionals that have problems recognising ME and giving appropriate advice to patients.

Recently I took a call from a chap that had actually been told by a doctor to run as fast as he could between 20 lamp posts “to break the cycle”. This he tried to do and had to spend the following 4 days in bed when he could not even raise his head or arms off the bed. This chap has still to recover from the irresponsible advice he was given!

Over 100 GPs attended refresher sessions on ME/CFS earlier this year, organised by the Medical Education Department at Royal Sussex County Hospital working with the Sussex ME/CFS Society. The programme included lectures on the history of ME, diagnosis, management approaches and research from specialist doctors and members of the NHS Sussex ME/CFS Service team. We hope that these training sessions will go some way to improving the understanding and treatment of ME.

Our charity works closely with local and national doctors in the field and helped set up the NHS Sussex-wide CFS/ME Service that has dealt with nearly 4,000 referrals since 2005.

The NHS team that has helped many towards improved health includes a specialist doctor, physiotherapists, occupational therapists along with a psychologist and administrator. There is also now a service helping children and young people with ME/CFS in Brighton.

ME that can sometimes follow a viral infection or trauma and last for years, affects over 6,000 adults and children across Sussex a number of whom are virtually housebound and in need of care.

In recent years ME/CFS has been classified as a neurological disorder and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have issued guidelines.

A UK ME/CFS Research Collaborative was launched last year bringing together researchers, clinicians, charities and the Medical Research Council and aims to promote the highest quality research into ME/CFS. The Sussex ME/CFS Society is an associate member of this collaborative.

Although things in the field are far from perfect much has been achieved for ME patients in general over the last 28 years our work continues to ensure that incidence like the one described above never happen. People with ME do not ask for special treatment only that equal to others with chronic neurological conditions.

For more information about the Sussex ME Society, click here:

 

The Queen Of The Fairies and Cervical Cancer

The Titania Fairy says get tested!

Cervical Cancer

BAR TITANIA, the women and guest bar in Soho, London will be hosting a spectacular night in aid of Cervical Cancer on Thursday, December 4.

Organisers want to get the message out that Lesbians and bisexual women are as likely as their heterosexual counterpart to develop cervical cancer, yet are up to a staggering 10 times less likely to undergo regular screening for the disease.

Cervical cancer was once one of the most deadly female cancers, however with early detection through regular screening it has now transformed into the most preventable female cancer. Despite this, due to low rates of regular screening, lesbians and bisexual women have become a priority group for cervical cancer control.

On the night there will be an auction full of fantastic items including merchandise from the Butch Clothing Company and signed items from Sony Music including a personalised Amy Winehouse gold disk from Island Records. The evening will show case some of the LGBT communities many talented performers, guest appearances’ from LoUis CYfer and a talk from a leading authority in cervical cancer,

All money raised from the auction will be donated to Jo’s Cervical cancer trust and Stonewall.

For up to the minute information, click here:


 

Event: A spectacular night in aid of Cervical Cancer

Where: Bar Titania, 75 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 7PY

When: Thursday, December 4

Time: 6.30pm – 2am

 

 

 

Food poverty exists in Brighton actually!

Food poverty exists despite stories to persuade us otherwise with 3,500 people in Brighton and Hove not able to afford to feed themselves or their families.

Lunch Positive

LOW PAY, high rents, expensive fuel and household bills. Reduced welfare support, inadequate housing benefits, withdrawal of emergency support. Poor housing, rogue landlords and inadequate cooking facilities. Poor health, lack of physical stamina and support at home. Loneliness, low mood, depression and poor mental health. Homelessness, rough sleeping and restricted spaces to shelter.

These are the causes of food poverty for growing numbers of people in the city. A city that behind the gloss of flourishing business and industry, cultural activity, housing development, university growth and tourist attraction is still a place of social and financial inequality, exclusion and uncertainty for many.

Whenever the inevitable expose of food banks appears on television I watch with keen and close interest. Of course it’s frustrating to see people misuse the system and benefit where they have no need. But don’t let that obscure the far greater number of people who have genuine difficulty feeding themselves.

Have you ever been hungry? Not just waiting for your next meal, but truly hungry. So hungry that you feel physically weak and in pain – with an empty fridge and no money to buy food for several days, or longer? So emotionally depleted because you aren’t in a position to meet your basic needs?

At our community service we get to know the people who come along, talk about their circumstances, understand at first hand the challenges that many have, and witness the distress this can cause.

Actually, most people are reluctant to ask for help. Please don’t buy into sensational media and take the comfortable stance that the problem isn’t as great, as it is. For the numbers of people who seek support, consider the very many more that don’t, who aren’t counted, and suffer as a consequence.

So, Christmas approaches – a time of celebration and excess for many. It’s as good a time as any to remind ourselves that many others will be facing the weeks ahead, and beyond, just like any other – with worry and uncertainty about eating regularly.

For people with HIV, we’d ask you to remember we’re here to help. We’d like to thank our volunteers for their hard work and creativity. They feed up to 60 people each week, a healthy three course meal that costs less than £100 in total to produce.

We’d like you to know about Fareshare Brighton that donates us food stocks every week, without which we would not exist. Above all, we hope you’ll join with us and consider the causes of inequality and food poverty, and what we can do to change this.

Lunch Positive provides a weekly Friday lunch club for people with HIV.

For more information, click here:   

Fareshare Brighton distributes excess food from catering suppliers and supermarkets to charities.

For more information, click here:

 

 

Fundraiser for Heart Charity at Royal Oak

Terry Shaw is hosting a Christmas Party and fundraiser to benefit the British Heart Foundation at The Royal Oak on Sunday, December 14.

WEB.600

TERRY WILL be joined on stage by vocalists Jennie Castell, Jason Lee and Krissie Ducann from 7pm. Entry is free. There will be a raffle to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and disco dancing till late.


 

Event: Christmas Party and fundraiser for British Heart Foundation

Where: Royal Oak, St James Street, Brighton

When: Sunday, December 14

Time: from 7pm

Cost: Free entry

 

 

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