HIV Outcomes organises a Roundtable on the HRQoL of people living with HIV in the UK

On Wednesday 16 June 2021, HIV Outcomes organised a roundtable meeting to identify areas where HIV Outcomes might be able to contribute to the ongoing work around the health-related quality of (HRQoL) of people living with HIV in the UK. Chaired by Prof. Jane Anderson (Homerton University, HIV Outcomes Co-Chair), over 30 attendees from the UK HIV community, including high-profile individuals and experts, gave their perspectives on where the UK is with regards to HRQoL and what change is needed to continue improving the health-related wellbeing of the UK HIV community. 

Stakeholders recognised the importance of people’s HRQoL to the future of HIV care but highlighted challenges around measuring HRQoL as there is still no consensus on what ‘good’ HRQoL is. Likewise, attendees called for a ‘community stakeholder map’ in order to keep better track of the initiatives being carried out by UK organisations on HRQoL. 

Participants also identified several consultations and ongoing pieces of work that will potentially shape the HIV policy landscape in the UK for the coming years. It was agreed that these developments present HIV Outcomes with an opportunity to act as a focal point to: 

• undertake a stocktake on HRQoL work in the UK; 
• develop a consensus on how the HRQoL agenda can be taken forward;
• advocate for the inclusion of HRQoL in government policy on HIV. 

The meeting was concluded with a commitment to continue to take forward the work where possible, and further conversations as to how best to make that happen will take place in short order.