IT HAS been announced today that the UK’s first purpose built AIDS hospice, Milestone House, is set to close.
The residential centre is part of Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity, and is based on Oxgangs Road North.
The Waverley Care team have stated that the house will be closing in order to adapt to the changing landscape of HIV care, and say that residential care is no longer needed for patients.
The charity is now looking ahead to focus on more flexible support delivered directly within communities.
Waverley Care was founded in 1989, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and is currently working to end new transmissions of the disease in Scotland by 2030.
The charity was created in order to build Milestone House, which was the UK’s first purpose-built AIDS hospice and aimed to provide support to patients from diagnosis to death.
For 36 years it has been dedicated to ensuring quality of life, dignity, and independence to sufferers, and with the advent of new HIV treatment it has shifted from palliative to preventative care.
Due to medical advancements, those diagnosed with HIV are able to live healthy lives and can rely on medication to decrease the impact of the virus on their immune systems.
Though there is no cure for HIV, these treatments enable most people to live long and full lives – therefore the care response at Milestone House has changed.
In April 2020, its focus shifted to “supporting individuals with complex health and social care needs, including those experiencing homelessness or affected by substance use.”
Staff say: “While this work has been valuable, it has moved us away from our core mission: supporting people affected by HIV or Hepatitis C.”
As a result, Waverley Care will soon cease service at Milestone House and the site will be placed in the care of its owners, NHS Lothian.
A new provider with “specific expertise in complex health and social care” is expected to take over the service in November this year.
Waverley Care has released a statement to thank Milestone staff for their “continued dedication, compassion, and professionalism during this time”.
They say: “Throughout the transition in recent years, they have continued to deliver high-quality, person-centred support to members of our community.
“Their resilience and commitment to care have been unwavering, and we are deeply grateful for everything they have contributed—not just to Waverley Care but to the many lives they have touched.”
Now, the Edinburgh-based charity will be progressing towards delivering compassionate care that focuses on the real-life needs of those with HIV, targeting issues such as poor mental health, stigma, and aging with the disease.
It states that it will be at the “forefront” of helping Scotland reach its goal of eliminating new HIV transmission by 2030, and that “reducing stigma and expanding access to testing are core to our mission”.
To celebrate the legacy of Milestone House, Waverley Care will be hosting a special farewell event and open afternoon – details of which are to be released soon.
Grant Sugden, Chief Executive of Waverley Care, said today: “Milestone House has played a historic and transformative role in HIV care in Scotland, and we are incredibly proud of its legacy.
“As advances in treatment mean that residential HIV care is no longer required, we have decided to step away from managing Milestone. This marks a significant and positive shift, reflecting how far we’ve come.
“Since 2020, Milestone House has supported individuals with complex health and social care needs, including those affected by homelessness and substance use, under the direction of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB).
“The EIJB is now seeking a new provider to continue delivering care at the site, and we are committed to working closely with partners to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.
“For Waverley Care, this change enables us to fully focus on our community-based services for people affected by HIV and hepatitis C, meeting individuals where they are with the support they need.
“We look forward to coming together later in the year to hold an event and celebrate Milestone’s remarkable journey and the impact it has had on the community.”
