– Title: Leeds Fast-Track Cities One Year On Workshop Event
– Author/Organiser: Leeds Fast-Track Cities partnership (Leeds City Council Public Health, NHS Trusts, Forward Leeds, Hepatitis C Trust)
– Date: February–May 2023 (Fast-Track City designation Feb 2023; workshop May 2023)
– Audience: Local partners and stakeholders in HIV, TB and viral hepatitis prevention and care
– Objective: Review Year 1 progress, map services/data, identify gaps and set priorities toward zero new infections, deaths and stigma by 2030
Background
• Leeds joined the global Fast-Track Cities initiative in Feb 2023
• Committed to ZERO new HIV, TB and viral hepatitis infections and ZERO AIDS-related deaths and stigma by 2030
• May 2023 workshop mapped existing HIV, TB and viral hepatitis activity and data, strengthening partnerships and identifying service gaps
Key Gaps Identified
• Weak links with primary care
• Lack of opt-out HIV (and hepatitis B/C) testing in emergency departments
• Insufficient healthcare staff knowledge of HIV, TB and viral hepatitis
Achievements to Date
• Established Leeds Fast-Track City Leadership Group and sub-groups (Data, Testing & Prevention, Anti-Stigma)
• United HIV, TB and viral hepatitis stakeholders locally, and connected with other UK/international Fast-Track Cities for shared learning
• Mapped citywide service provision via workshop, identifying gaps and opportunities
• Secured several project grants and initiated multiple pipeline projects
• Government commitment to expand opt-out testing in emergency departments (as praised by Cllr Salma Arif)
Subgroups and Activities
- Data Subgroup
• Set baseline metrics and monitored progress toward UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets (already achieved locally)
• Identified data collection gaps and drove evidence-based work streams (testing, prevention, stigma reduction)
• Integrated community insight and coordinated data intelligence across HIV, TB and viral hepatitis - Testing & Prevention Subgroup
• Conducted citywide workshop to map testing opportunities and gaps for at-risk and marginalised populations
• Formed a cross-sector group to share learning, staff and resources across Hepatitis, TB and HIV sectors
• Exploring interventions in community settings to reach marginalised groups - Anti-Stigma Subgroup
• Launched Community Grants Programme to fund local creative projects reducing stigma
• Partnered with training providers to develop digital HIV, TB and hepatitis training for health and social care staff
• Organized a digital takeover of Forum Central’s X page during HIV Testing Week to amplify key messages
Plans and Hopes for Year 2
• Develop usable, informative viral hepatitis data dashboards
• Evaluate a combined HIV, viral hepatitis and TB mobilisation approach
• Re-establish opt-out HIV and hepatitis B testing (and maintain hepatitis C) in Leeds emergency departments
• Expand HIV prevention: increase PrEP provision to women and young men who have sex with men
• Enhance community engagement and blood-borne virus screening in new entrant clinics
• Pilot TB screening for sex workers via Leeds Sexual Health outreach
• Collaborate TB services with prison services and Forward Leeds
• Showcase community grants work in local museums to reduce stigma
• Roll out accessible anti-stigma training for all health and social care workers
• Ensure all VCSE and healthcare providers are HIV, TB and hepatitis aware and stigma-fre
