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Media Centre > News Releases > HIV and healthcare workers
EPF partner raises awareness of HIV in the nursing profession
18th April 2007
The UK Coalition of People living with HIV and Aids (UKC) has joined forces with the Royal College of Nursing to put HIV on the public agenda
Christopher Collister, one of the nurses who spoke out against HIV discrimination at the RCN congress.
He also raised the issues in a radio interview.
Advances in medication mean that people living with HIV can now live long and prosperous lives. But what happens when a nurse is diagnosed with HIV?
That was the question asked by EPF partner, UKC, at a seminar held in partnership with the UK's largest nursing union, the Royal College of Nursing at their annual congress in Harrogate.
The event raised the issues faced by healthcare workers affected by HIV, and was addressed by a nurse who spoke of experiences working with HIV in the health service.
There are many healthcare workers living with HIV in the NHS, and apart from limitations on certain procedures, they can perform all of their duties expected of them, just the same as anyone else.
The seminar was also addressed by Jason Warriner, RCN Chair of Congress, who emphasised the need to challenge discrimination, and promised the RCN’s support for any healthcare workers affected by HIV. He said:
"The RCN/UKC event provided the opportunity for two leading organisations to work together to raise the profile of nurses living and working with HIV. The event clearly showed that a nurse living with HIV can provide care to patients and may be in a position to challenge stigma and discrimination."
Michael Laffan from UKC commented:
“Nurses affected by HIV often face additional stigma. We hear of discrimination cases happening all the time in the health service, and its great that the Royal College of Nursing is taking a lead in raising awareness of HIV in the nursing profession, and in fighting discrimination.”
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Notes
- UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS (UKC) is the national HIV patient charity. UKC offers support to people living with HIV, publishes Positive Nation, the UK’s HIV and sexual health magazine, and campaigns and lobbies for improved services and equal rights for people living with HIV in the UK and worldwide. www.ukcoalition.org
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations. www.rcn.org.uk
- Ensuring Positive Futures (EPF) is an innovative employability programme for people living with HIV in the UK, run by a partnership of organisations including major HIV charities, businesses, government bodies and trades unions working together to support people living with HIV in the workplace.
Contact
Michael Laffan, Communications Officer, UKC
Telephone: 020 7564 2180
Email: mlaffan@ukcoalition.org
This site is operated by the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS, 250 Kennington Lane, London SE115RD. Registered Charity number 1081309, Limited company, Registered Company in England and Wales number 2857569. Reproduction of material on this site is encouraged for non-for-profit or educational purposes on condition that permission is sought first. Ensuring Positive Futures is part of a community programme called Equal, a European Social Fund initiative, which tests and promotes new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequality in the labour market. The GB Equal Support Unit is managed by ECOTEC.