There has been a lot in the news recently about the anxiety provoked by the process of the UK leaving (or not) the EU. Whatever side people are in the debate the uncertainty seems to be causing stress – even distress to many.

Looking at this through the lens of our work at the Beacon gives a different perspective. Whether we leave the EU on the 12^th April, the 30^th June or not at all, nothing changes for our work. Unless it is that it creates more uncertainty for our patients and service users in what can already be a very uncertain World.

They face uncertainty of the deepest kind every day. About whether they will feel well enough to get up in the morning, whether their new anti-retroviral drugs will help them deal with their daily challenges, whether their family will cease to speak to them when they find out they are HIV positive. These kinds of issues go right to the heart of life. Important as they are, economics and politics are at a different level.

At the Beacon we have our attention on the way we can allay this life changing uncertainty for people living with HIV across Sussex – whatever happens in Brussels.