Tue 12 May 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
UPDATED: Transgender people, men who have sex with men and people with HIV are being assured that a massive thirty per cent cut in sexual health services provided to the Auckland region will not affect them. The Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service averages 22,000 client appointments a year across its Auckland sites and through the NZ AIDS Foundation and the NZ Prostitutes' Collective. It is currently polling its sexual health managers and other affected organisations on the best way to respond to a directive by the Auckland, Waitemata and Counties Manukau District Health Boards that “that contracted volumes [are to] be reduced by 30 per cent.” However, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people and those with HIV are amongst a list of “priority groups” whose access to services will not be reduced. Under the proposed regime there is to be more reliance on non-prioritised patients being dealt with by primary service providers such as GPs. A centralised phone triage service is to be introduced. Dr. Nicky Perkins Sexual Health physician Dr. Nicky Perkins says she and her colleagues believe the cuts appear to be arising out of budgetary constraints “although that's not how it's being presented to us.” She says she and her colleagues have worked hard to ensure that MSM, transgender and HIV-positive people will retain their current access. But she fears the cuts may see a reduction in hours and a reduced number of sexual health clinic locations. Some reductions in staff are also likely to result from the overall cuts. The NZ AIDS Foundation says it is concerned about the overall reduction in resources for sexual health services, “but at least men who have sex with men and others in the LGBT community are being retained as a priority client group.” Shaun Robinson NZAF Executive Director Shaun Robinson says it is essential that this priority is retained “because the LGBTI community has specific sexual health risks. The risk of HIV is high among gay and bisexual men because unprotected anal sex is a very easy way for infections to enter the body and is eighteen times more prone to infection than vaginal sex. Other STIs pose a similar risk - approximately eighty per cent of all syphilis diagnoses occur in this group. So, it is important to ensure that people who’re at risk, get the care from health care professionals that they need.” Robinson notes that glbti people and those with HIV frequently fear stigma and have a resulting reticence of consulting their usual GP in sexual health matters where their sexuality and sexual practices would have to be declared. “For people from the LGBTI community accessing heath care involves dealing with stigma and homophobia – many do not reveal their sexual identity to their GP and many GPs are uncomfortable discussing it. Sexual health services are trained and experienced at dealing with this reality and with the stigma faced by people living with HIV.” Auckland transsexual woman Racheal McGonigal is concerned at the difficulty some trans people are having at being seen as it is. “It more seems there is a need to increase the budget by 30 per cent, than to make cuts of 30 per cent,” she says “I, last year had discussions with ADHB where it was suggested that perhaps an option was to use GPs more. To educate a nucleus of GPs, specifically re transsexuals’ needs so they could help Auckland Sexual Health, with the increasing demands from transsexuals seeking help, but forced to wait. “ She understands the 'current access' numbers are less than they were a year and are not acceptable. “I know a couple of transsexuals who have been waiting more than six months to be seen and it appears they are waiting due to the current workload doctors are under being too much demand for them. “So I am worried that transsexuals will at least continue to get continued access, as is current and hope we shall soon get back to as it was. Find it difficult to believe that will happen, if a 30 per cent reduction happens.” McGonigal also questions what is happening with a proposed 'gender clinic' that the three DHBs have been working on. A consultation process regarding the sexual health clinic changes is underway with a decision on the final shape of the new arrangements likely to be made by early next month.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 12th May 2015 - 12:19pm