Thank you for that series of questions. I think you’re right in terms of awareness raising, to start off with, that there is a real challenge in continuing the message about the reality of HIV and reducing the number of people with HIV in Wales. We still have people every year who contract HIV in Wales, so there’s a real need to improve our ability to reduce the numbers of people who have HIV and then the treatment and care for them as well.

There is something here about both the decision and the awareness around this, because we recognise there are groups of people who are likely to be at risk of HIV, or indeed who may have it and are reticent about coming forward. So, actually having a study, and the way that’s undertaken should help us to understand the levels of people who are at risk and actually the economic benefits of PrEP itself as well. That’s part of the reason behind the study, but I also see it within that wider context of care provided, too. I expect the study to start by the end of July this summer, so it will start in a matter of months. I can assure you that it will be available across all of Wales; it won’t be in particular parts first or afterwards, so it is a genuine all-Wales approach. Every single person where this is clinically appropriate will have PrEP made available to them—no extra hurdles or barriers to get over.

I think it’s also important to make clear that this will be primarily undertaken through GUM clinics. I know there’s a challenge through mid Wales in particular about the availability and access to them, and that’s part of the challenge in designing this, and in getting people access to an appropriate place to have that care and follow-up support undertaken. But it’s where most people access their support and advice on these areas. People are less likely to go to their general practitioner for this particular form of support and advice. So, that’s why we’re making sure, in the design of the study, that GUM clinics will be the primary place both for the prescribing, but also the follow-up treatment, care and testing and understanding about adherence to as well.

I’m looking forward to receiving back from Public Health Wales clear parameters about the study, how it will be undertaken, and the assessment of the value and the impact of the study, and the learning on the behaviour of individuals who are at most risk as well. Obviously, there’s a lot of learning we can get from this, and I look forward to being able to update Members, hopefully before recess, about where we are on the start of this particular study—that will be another part of awareness raising—but, in particular, what we will do with third sector organisations like the Terrence Higgins Trust and others to raise awareness from those most at risk as well. So, very pertinent questions, which are absolutely in my mind as we take this work forward.