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The department of health has launched the first national strategy for sexual health and HIV following the results of the second national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles, writes Clare Jerrom.

Three new research papers show a rise in diagnoses of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. According to the Terrence Higgins Trust, there are approximately 33,200 people in the UK who are HIV positive.

The strategy proposes targets to reduce the transmission of HIV and gonorrhoea infections, and suggests a target to reduce the number of undiagnosed HIV infections. Another aim is to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies.

The department of health will launch a national information campaign next year to promote sexual health as part of the plan.

The move follows the publication of a Terrence Higgins Trust report, which highlighted the prejudice and discrimination that people with HIV suffer.

‘Prejudice, discrimination and HIV – A Report’ said that many HIV positive people in Britain fear rejection from friends and family and difficulties at work, to the extent where they conceal their HIV diagnosis for fear of the consequences. HIV positive asylum seekers are receiving 'double discrimination' as a result of their illness and race.

The report made a series of recommendations to the department of health including the funding of a national campaign to challenge prejudice around HIV, and providing training and information about HIV to all relevant staff.

The department of health also announced a new policy that patients will no longer be automatically told when a health care worker is found to be HIV positive.

The risk of HIV transmission will be assessed on a case by case basis and the extent of patient notification exercise will depend on the level of risk exposure. Until now, all patients have been notified regardless of their level of risk.

HIV voluntary organisation George House Trust has welcomed the announcement, saying the facts were clear that there is no recorded transmission of HIV from a healthcare worker to a patient in the UK.

Denise McDowell, director of the organisation, said: "It is a welcome victory for people with HIV and especially for healthcare workers who have lived under the shadow of intrusion and exposure for too long. The policy has caused unnecessary distress and furthered discrimination towards healthcare workers with HIV at a time when support and care is needed."