Feedback South London, the HIV service user organisation in South London has stopped holding meetings.  I would draw your attention the their website - www.feedbacksl.org.uk - and the statement on this from the Chairman.

We own a debt of gratitude to Feedback & its Chair who are supportive of what we do and have been a good source of advice and support for us.  

The closure is a severe blow for service users in South London, London generally and the UK HIV voluntary support sector. To my knowledge no other HIV service user group in London, consistently had such a high regular turn out of PLWHA and a turnout that simply grew and grew.  This is a total credit to the Chair and the volunteers who worked tirelessly ensuring the voices of HIV people were heard.

In an era where government is seeking more public involvement in healthcare, it belies reason, that this group's funding should have been cut. No one is paid, only expenses are met.  Maybe they are a victim of their own success.  Delivering consistently on patient involvement.

They also successfully managed to get many speakers to appear so that the group could more directly raise issues and queries with "the powers that be".

When I have been able to attend meetings in the past. The welcome has always been inviting, open & warm. Feedback managed to get people from diverse backgrounds together bound by the common foundation of HIV.  This is a very difficult task and is very much what made the meetings "special".  Yes there was a meeting on issues but this was balanced by time for attendee's to talk and get to know each other. New people attending were treated like they had always been going, a friend.

Am I biased, yes, but that aside, Feedback South London was unique.

HIV services for people living in the South London have been severely damaged by the demise of this group.