GD24 Lothian Regional AIDS Team

Collection Summary


Reference Code: GB239 GD24

Title: Lothian Regional AIDS Team

Dates of Creation of Material: 1983-1997

Level of Description: Fonds

Extent and Medium of the Unit of Description: 12.75 shelf metres: paper, video and audio cassettes, latex


Name of creator(s): Lothian Regional AIDS team, later Lothian Health Board HIV/AIDS and Drugs Team

Administrative history: Dr George Bath was Lothian Health Board’s Community Medicine Specialist from 1986.  He wrote a comprehensive report in November 1986 calling for a co-ordinated range of AIDS services to be provided by the Health Board (see LHB37/8B/147). At the same time the McClelland Report ‘HIV Infection and Intravneous Drug Misuse’ was published with its own recommendations on best practice. In response to this, Bath’s report was approved by the Planning and Resources Committee of the Health Board on 18th December 1986 and in 1987 an AIDS team was established. The team consisted of the Community Medicine Specialist (Dr Bath), a Health Promotion Officer, Community Psychiatric Nurse, an Administrator and clerical support. It later included staff from Lothian Regional Council. Its main functions were planning and co-ordinating new initiatives in all areas of HIV/AIDS activity and taking a practical part in AIDS prevention and education.

Initially the HIV/AIDS Team was based at the Lothian Health Board headquarters in Drumsheugh Place but moved to the Northern General Hospital in 1991.  In July 1992 the team transferred to the newly opened Spittal Street Centre. By 1992 the team had developed sub-teams of health promotion, harm reduction, primary care facilitation and administration.

The Tayler Report to the Scottish Home and Health Department provided further impetus for developments in AIDS services and approval was given for the establishment of a 15-bed AIDS unit at the City Hospital in 1988.  At the same time the ‘Take Care’ campaign, the Health Board’s public health information initiative on AIDS started.

Archival History: Records held within the National Health Service prior to transfer in 2001.

Immediate Source of Acquisition or Transfer: Alison Richardson, Lothian Health Board HIV/AIDS and Drugs Team  (Acc 01/036)


Scope and Content: The collection provides insights into the health service response to AIDS as well as the response of national and local government and voluntary organisations.  It includes administrative and policy files, 1984-1997; files of Operations Manager, 1983-1994; files of AIDS co-ordinator for Lothian Regional Council, 1986-1995; information sheets, 1989-1995; Spittal Street Centre Library, 1976-1997; and health promotion material.

Appraisal, Destruction and Scheduling Information: Disposal authorised

Accruals: No further accessions are expected
System of Arrangement: Original order retained


Conditions Governing Access: Public access to these records is governed by UK data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, and the current Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland).GD35/15 was deposited on the condition that it should not be made available without the permission of the depositor.   It should be noted that the same item appears in this collection.
Conditions Governing Reproduction: Reproduction is subject to closure periods and physical condition
Language/Scripts of Material: English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements: Paper; latex

Finding Aids: An item level catalogue is available


Archivists' Notes: Compiled by Alison Scott
Rules or Conventions: Description based on ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description International Council on Archives (2nd edition), 2000
Date(s) of Description: January 2011