Specsavers, which has more than 900 UK stores and operates in ten countries, turned away Jason Reid, 44, from an earwax removal treatment after he told them he had HIV during a routine questionnaire.
Specsavers said it is now “reviewing and updating” its advice for clinicians after being contacted by The i Paper.
Having booked the procedure after suffering from a blocked ear, Mr Reid said an audiologist told him she couldn’t perform the removal due to guidance from the British Society of Audiology (BSA).
Caption: Jason Reid said he was left feeling ‘ashamed and unworthy’ by Specsavers (Source: Handout)“She kind of stopped in her tracks and looked at me and said, ‘OK, I’m going to have to look at the guidelines’.”
A Specsavers spokesperson said: “Our colleague who saw Jason followed official industry guidelines but we recognise that this has highlighted a lack of clarity in the regulations. We are committed to working with the BSA and other professional bodies to improve industry-wide guidance.
Caption: Specsavers has over 900 UK stores(Getty Images Europe)
The BSA advises against treating customers with “communicable” blood diseases – but does not specifically mention HIV in its guidance. Its chair, Dr Siobhán Brennan, said the advice on wax removal has now been removed from its website.
Like most people in Britain living with HIV, Mr Reid is on effective anti-retroviral treatment which means the levels of the virus in his blood are so low it is classed as “undetectable”.
Dr Tristan Barber, a specialist HIV consultant at the Royal Free Hospital and Honorary Secretary of the British HIV Association (BHIVA), said a treatment such as earwax removal would pose “zero risk of HIV acquisition” to a practitioner.
Caption: Specsavers has displayed public support for the LGBTTQIA+ community, celebrating Pride Month in its stores around the world (Source: Getty Images)
Dr Barber added that even if the patient bled during the procedure, as long as the audiologist’s own skin was intact, they could simply wash off the blood and remain safe.
He added: “We are hopeful of a constructive outcome which will end the discrimination against people living with HIV and mean that they can access ear wax removal from Specsavers, and other audiology service providers.”
Mr Reid hopes his case will help others having to go through the same ordeal, adding: “Lord knows how many people have gone away feeling helpless and haven’t been able to speak up. I want to get some positive from the negative.”
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