A festive round-up from Professor Matt Phillips
11 December 2025
(Last updated: 12 Dec 2025 09:54)
Image (right) is Professor Matt Phillips with Dr Shyama Somawardhana at the SLCoSHH annual conference in Sri Lanka last week.
This time of year is always particularly busy, with many of us balancing professional commitments alongside added personal responsibilities as the Christmas season approaches. I must say, I love Christmas, and I know it brings joy to so many of us. It’s a time not only for celebration with family and friends, but also for reflection and gratitude. So, I want to take a moment to express my thanks for your continued dedication and hard work. There’s a bumper edition this month as BASHH has been particularly busy.
Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) Review
I am delighted to share the report from BASHH’s independent EEDI review, conducted by Purple Pen Research and Evaluation Consulting, with guidance from our EEDI Review Advisory Group. Listening to the voices across our community of practice has been both powerful and humbling, underscoring the importance of truly hearing and responding to the diverse experiences and perspectives that shape Genitourinary Medicine, sexual health, and HIV care. Recognising and valuing this diversity is absolutely fundamental to achieving excellence in our field.
This report represents not an endpoint, but the beginning of an ongoing journey. As we shape the next stage of BASHH’s strategic plan and refine our operating model, we are firmly committed to embedding the review’s findings into our structures, governance, and everyday practice. Our promise is to ensure that equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion are interwoven through everything we do – in how we lead, partner, and serve our communities. I am especially pleased to share the EEDI Oversight Group, established to ensure accountability and drive progress, has commenced its work this week.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the development of this report and, in particular, to Dr. Melvina Woode Owusu. Melvina’s efforts and insights have been instrumental in shaping this work. I encourage all members to take the time to read the report when you can.
Government Publishes New HIV Action Plan for England
The publication by the Government of a new HIV Action Plan for England on World AIDS Day marked a welcome and timely step forward in our collective efforts to end new HIV transmissions by 2030. Backed by £170 million of dedicated funding, the Plan sets out a range of commitments for how the 2030 goal will be met, including continued delivery of opt-out BBV testing in Emergency Departments, a national programme for reengagement in care, and investment in workforce development.
The Plan’s publication is a pivotal moment in the ongoing HIV response. I am particularly encouraged by the Plan’s focus on securing the future HIV workforce – an area that BASHH has championed particularly strongly. Initiatives such as LoveGUM have already helped reverse declining uptake in our specialty, and sustained investment now offers a real opportunity to build long-term stability. In recent weeks, BASHH has also confirmed support for the #SASsix Campaign, aiming to enhance career development, job security, and professional satisfaction of Specialist, Associate Specialist, and Specialty Doctors across the NHS – more details on this to come! It is also excellent to see recognition within the Plan of the STI Foundation and its central role in maintaining high standards of training and care.
Reconnecting people living with HIV to care is essential if we are to achieve zero transmissions, and the framework set out by the Government provides a strong basis to build on recent progress in this area. BASHH will continue to work closely with partners to help ensure that the Plan’s implementation is guided by equity, evidence, and clinical excellence. You can read BASHH’s full response to the Plan’s publication on our website.
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day continues to be an important moment for reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment. This year’s theme – “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response” – captures both the resilience of global communities amidst challenges and the scale of the task ahead. This message was echoed in BASHH’s joint statement with BHIVA, responding to reports that the US government will no longer commemorate World AIDS Day. Organisations like BASHH and BHIVA will always support the HIV community in marking this day.
BASHH’s HIV & BBV Special Interest Group, co-chaired by Dr Lisa Hamzah and Eleanor Hamlyn, continues to drive impactful work through education, advocacy, and partnership. Their leadership brings together multidisciplinary clinical expertise and lived experience to reduce stigma, expand access to treatment and prevention, and support close collaboration with the PrEP Working Group. To mark World AIDS Day, Lisa and Eleanor authored a Q&A-style blog exploring why this day remains vital and what’s next in the effort toward ending HIV transmission. I recommend reading the full piece if you haven’t already.
Parliamentary Committee Updates
You may recall seeing our CEO, Kat Smithson, participate in the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Select Committee oral evidence session in September, where she urged the government to tackle pressing issues such as rising STI rates, workforce pressures, and fragmented funding.
The Women and Equalities Committee has since published a report on tackling HIV transmission, which highlights stark and unacceptable inequalities in outcomes. The Committee draws attention to sharply rising HIV diagnoses among women and minority ethnic communities, with UKHSA data showing that new diagnoses among women exposed through sex with men have risen by 26% since 2019, and that diagnoses among Black African and Asian populations have increased by 80% and 40%, respectively.
BASHH strongly welcomed the Committee’s focus on these issues. I am particularly pleased to see continued support for opt-out BBV testing in Emergency Departments – an intervention proven to save lives across HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. However, the report also reinforces what many colleagues are experiencing daily: sexual health services are extremely stretched, with funding pressures undermining the very community-based care models the NHS aims to champion. We reiterate the urgent need for investment, and for Government and commissioners to work with experts and communities to realise the benefits of new innovations and models of care.
With this in mind, we were greatly encouraged by the Health and Social Care Committee’s recent letter sent to the Minister for Public Health and Prevention, setting out its key conclusions from the evidence session on sexual health services in England held in October, which BASHH was asked to present at. The letter – published online here – made clear the Committee’s strong view that a comprehensive national sexual health strategy was needed and called on the Government ‘to act without further delay’. It also made a number of other robust calls, including sustaining the workforce and supporting improved access to services. We strongly welcome these recommendations and continue to support the Committee’s next steps in its follow-up with the Government.
Global Congresses and Alignment
Recent developments underscore both the scale of the challenge we face and the strength of our collective, global response in the world of genitourinary medicine. Over the past few months, I’ve worked to nurture this spirit of collaboration – whether attending key events in Athens (IUSTI EU), Dublin (SSSTDI), and most recently Sri Lanka (SLCOSHH). One especially welcome takeaway from SLCOSHH is the opportunity for Sri Lankan specialist doctors to work in the UK for a year of experience in our systems – if you need any further details on this, please to get in touch with admin@bashh.org. Moreover, there is continued dialogue with Professor Mumtaz Patel, President of the Royal College of Physicians, about further strengthening our close working relationship and support us exploring avenues where we can work more closely together.
BASHH x BHIVA Collaboration
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations to Professor Yvonne Gilleece for her outstanding leadership and commitment during her tenure as Chair of BHIVA. Her dedication and vision have made a significant and lasting impact to the work of BHIVA and everything it does to promote excellent care for people living with and affected by HIV. As Yvonne steps down, I am delighted to warmly welcome Dr Tristan Barber as the new Chair of BHIVA. On behalf of BASHH, I offer our full support to Tristan and BHIVA as we continue to work together towards our shared goals.
In the spirit of our collaboration, I am pleased to share that registration for the Joint BASHH x BHIVA Conference is now open. This meeting is a special collaboration between the UK’s two foremost clinical societies in HIV and sexual health. It will bring our communities together to share research, explore the latest developments in clinical management and prevention, and connect with colleagues across disciplines. It promises to be a landmark event for our field.
Early bird rates will be available until Monday 23rd March 2026, and the full conference registration fee will include access to all scientific sessions, the exhibition, day catering, the online abstract book, the conference app, and the event badge. Daily rates and on-site options are available, alongside further information, via the BHIVA website.
As always, for any feedback or thoughts, please do reach out to me directly at president@bashh.net. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas break and Happy New Year. I hope you’re able to find some time for a very well-deserved rest, and I look forward to all that 2026 has in store for us.
With best wishes,
Matt