§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of people in the area covered by the West Midlands regional health authority who are known to have the AIDS virus; and how many within this total are estimated to be haemophiliacs who have been given the AIDS virus through blood products.
§ Mr. NewtonFor the West Midlands region the communicable disease surveillance centre figures record four current cases of clinical AIDS, and 262 positive tests for HIV antibody. Records are not held centrally showing by region the number of haemophiliacs included in these categories.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specific funds have been allocated to the West Midlands regional health authority for the provision of counselling services at district level for haemophiliacs who have been found to be carrying the AIDS virus; what is the present level of such provision; and what plans there are to improve the service to meet need.
§ Mr. NewtonHealth authorities provide haemophilia care through a network of haemophilia centres. Six of these centres are designated haemophilia reference centres.
Since December 1985 additional allocations of £60,000 have been made to each HRC specifically for AIDS counselling, because of the particular burden they bear. there is no HRC in the west midlands. A further £280,000 has been allotted for 1987–88 but the basis for distribution is still under consideration.
The provision of counselling services at other haemophilia centres is a matter for the local health authority to consider in the light of local needs and priorities.