A public health budget ring-fence for HIV care is to be extended for a year longer than planned, it was announced last week after a debate in the House of Commons.

Finchley and Golders Green MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on HIV and AIDS Mike Freer held a debate in the commons on Monday to address a report on HIV care and services carried out by the APPG.

Public Health minister Nicola Blackwood MP announced the public health budget ring-fence extension to 2019 after the debate took place, highlighting the improvements needed to the commissioning of HIV care.

Mr Freer said: “It really is positive to learn the Government are putting in place a number of measures that had been recommended by the APPG.

"The announcements made by the Minister today represent significant developments which will be welcomed by the group and many more.”

The report, The HIV Puzzle, launched its inquiry over a year ago to investigate the impact of the Health & Social Care Act 2012 on HIV services, hearing evidence from people living with HIV, advocacy groups and public health in Manchester, Wales and Scotland.

Other recommendations in the report were to galvanise NHS England to commission anti-HIV drugs, to protect HIV testing and encourage Public Health England to ensure consistent advice is available.

But National AIDS Trust policy and campaigns manager Kat Smithson said that the government need to support local authorities with “increased investment” in order to maintain services for those with HIV.

She said: “Local authorities should be thinking about how they can work with others to protect these vital services rather than making deep and lasting cuts to local provision.

“The Government must support local authorities to do this though, by defining clearer commissioning responsibility for all HIV services and providing increased investment.

“Protecting the ring-fence alone will not be enough.”

Ms Smithson added that the NAT welcome the extension of the ring-fence as it gives reassurance for critical public health services at a time where this is “huge pressure” on finances.