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HIV patients 'denied treatment' | HIV patients 'denied treatment' |
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One of Wales' top sexual health doctors has warned that some patients with HIV are being denied treatment by GPs for everyday illnesses. | One of Wales' top sexual health doctors has warned that some patients with HIV are being denied treatment by GPs for everyday illnesses. |
Dr Olwen Williams told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye that some GPs referred HIV patients to hospitals instead of treating common complaints themselves. | Dr Olwen Williams told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye that some GPs referred HIV patients to hospitals instead of treating common complaints themselves. |
More than 1,000 people in Wales live with the virus. | More than 1,000 people in Wales live with the virus. |
The British Medical Association denied discrimination but said some GPs may be overly cautious in referring patients. | The British Medical Association denied discrimination but said some GPs may be overly cautious in referring patients. |
Dr Williams claimed patients were experiencing "very subtle" discrimination. | |
"It might be when they go to the dentist and try and register, when they fill in the form they suddenly find there are no spaces on the list. | |
My concern here is that we've still got fear and prejudice and ignorance that's actually driving discrimination and stigma in Wales. Dr Olwen Williams, consultant in genito-urinary medicine | |
"Other things that are probably even more subtle is that they'll go to their GP, divulge they're HIV positive, with a complaint at the time that's very common that the GP should be able to deal with, but actually told they have to see their HIV physician for this condition. | |
"Of course that really denies them access to health care at a point where they actually need it. | |
"If I was someone with cancer and I went to a GP with a common cold and I was told 'sorry I can't deal with that' because I've got cancer I'd be so amazed - that's what our patients are experiencing." | "If I was someone with cancer and I went to a GP with a common cold and I was told 'sorry I can't deal with that' because I've got cancer I'd be so amazed - that's what our patients are experiencing." |
"My concern here is that we've still got fear and prejudice and ignorance that's actually driving discrimination and stigma in Wales. And I think this is something major that we have to tackle," she said. | |
'Information and training' | 'Information and training' |
Dr Andrew Dearden, the chair of the British Medical Association's Welsh council, said it would be "unprofessional and unethical" for a doctor to discriminate against someone because of any illness. | |
But he said some doctors might not always feel they had all the information and training needed to treat certain conditions. | |
"Remember that doctors always refer patients to other doctors or, for example, physios, when they feel there's a need for extra information, diagnosis, tests or treatment," he said. | |
"Generally you would expect GPs to treat those things within practice as long as they're confident those things are not serious complications of the disease." | "Generally you would expect GPs to treat those things within practice as long as they're confident those things are not serious complications of the disease." |