Biala’s HIV services “unchanged”
Specialist HIV services provided within the soon-to-be-closed Brisbane Sexual Health Clinic will be retained and run at full capacity, according to the head of the Queensland Health Department’s Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on HIV/AIDS.
The Metro North Hospital and Health Services (MNHHS) board have decided to not cut back on services provided to People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and will keep the HIV specific Clinic 2 open, following a meeting of the MAC held earlier this week and on-going consultation between the two.
There was community anger last week following the announcement on March 22 that the MNHHS was closing the free sexual health clinic (known as Clinic 1) and Clinic 2 would be cut back to only taking on ‘complex cases’ of PLHIV.
“I spoke with Metro North last night and gained assurances that HIV services will remain unchanged, with access to testing and treatment to continue as is,” MAC head Dr Darren Russell told the Star Observer this morning.
“There will be ongoing testing for those who walk-in as well, and specialised sexual health services will likewise be unaffected.”
Clinic 1 is still believed to be closing within weeks.
There will be a protest rally regarding the closures at the Brisbane Sexual Health Clinic held on this at 4.30pm at the Biala building on Roma St.
Further details to come.
