ABSTRACT
AIDS is perhaps the single greatest challenge ever faced by local authorities. But, although HIV and AIDS are new medical problems, it does not necessarily follow that all the issues surrounding them are new or that we require novel methods and systems to cope with them effectively and efficiently (Foy, 1988). Issues such as confidentiality in relation to personal infvrmation, staff training and support, anti-discriminatory functioning, health and safety, staff and client consultation in decision-making, and policy and guidelines are all matters which are familiar to local authorities. In effect, AIDS has exposed the inadequacies of local authority policy and practices, and has brought about an urgency to examine each of these concerns afresh. The challenge of AIDS means that local authorities, as providers of health and social services, must confront these issues and tackle the very questions which until now have been so easily brushed aside.
