This is a guide for people living with HIV in England

Developed by the British HIV Association (BHIVA), in partnership with care providers, professional associations, commissioners and people living with HIV, the Standards outline what good quality HIV services look like. Commissioners, HIV clinics and others who provide HIV services should be guided by the BHIVA Standards in their work. 

The Constitution sets out your rights as an NHS patient. These rights cover how patients access health services, the quality of care you’ll receive, the treatments and programmes available to you, confidentiality, information and your right to complain if things go wrong.

The Equality Act 2010 pulled together all existing strands of anti-discrimination legislation. It provides protection against discrimination and harassment which is linked to: disability (HIV is defined as a disability from the point of diagnosis. You don’t need to feel disabled to be covered); gender reassignment; marriage or civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sexual orientation; sex (gender); age (in employment situations only).

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 is the piece of legislation which started the recent changes to the NHS in England. It describes the new structures which will commission your health services and the opportunities for patients to get involved with shaping the services in their local area.

Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) is the assessment tool used by all local councils to decide who should get social care services. In 2010 the Department of Health released guidance called Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: A whole system approach to eligibility for social care – which is commonly called FACS 2010 for short. It outlines how the FACS assessment should be carried out and what should be considered in deciding if someone needs social care services.