Fears as prostitute support funds cut

Published on Thursday 2 April 2009 22:18

LOW rates of sexually transmitted infections in prostitutes may not be maintained after funding was withdrawn from a support service for women sex workers, it was claimed yesterday.

Scottish Prostitutes Education Project (SCOT-PEP) has been forced to stop running drop-in centres for street workers after NHS Lothian cut two-thirds of its funding, from 150,000 to 50,000.

In an open letter, the group expressed concern about what support would now be available to sex workers.

Funding was cut as it was believed that prostitutes were no longer at high risk of HIV and other infections.

But SCOT-PEP questioned the evidence that the risk to sex workers had changed so much to merit such "swingeing" cuts.

The charity accepted infections had remained low – in part due to the success of projects like their own.

The letter added: "But there is also concern that this trend may not be maintained following such a drastic reduction in the funding levels available."

Ruth Morgan, manager of SCOT-PEP, said they had concerns about the services which would be available to sex workers now they had to stop their outreach work.

She said it was likely that there would be less face-to-face contact for sex workers seeking help and advice.

The range supplies available for prostitutes – such as condoms – is also set to be reduced, they claimed.

Ms Morgan said the charity would continue its campaigning work and would also be monitoring services being provided to prostitutes.

Mike Massaro-Mallinson, from NHS Lothian, said: "NHS Lothian is spending over 50,000 this year on direct HIV prevention work with female sex workers and is also investing an additional 20,000 in an increased condom budget ensuring all female sex workers have access to free condoms."