HIV

Sexual Health Clinics in Hull and the East Riding provide free and confidential tests for HIV and other blood borne infections (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis).

These can either be done separately, or as part of a full sexual health screening.

Alternatively if you just want an HIV test, you can book directly to see a health adviser on tel. 01482 336366. Before you take the test you will be provided with full information about HIV.

24 hour testing is also available.

The sexual health clinics also provide sexual and reproductive health support, treatment and follow up for people with HIV.

Further information on the latest HIV treatments and news can be found here.

Getting seen - you can do this either by:

  • Booking an appointment on tel. 01482 336336
  • Turning up at one of our Walk-in Clinics. Times can be found here

We are happy to discuss with you on the phone the best way for you to be seen!

What to expect - people with HIV

A senior nurse or health adviser will obtain some baseline information and tests, and arrange for you to be seen by one of our consultants specialised in care of people with HIV.

You will be seen in a general sexual health setting where people with all sorts of sexual health needs are being seen, not just with HIV.

If needed, we will arrange for you to access other services, including a social worker, specialist HIV pharmacist, help with mental health, health trainers, dietician, smoking cessation.

You will be offered routine regular follow-up with our doctors and nurses. We will also be available to you for urgent telephone conversations and/or we will see you on the same day as an urgent appointment.

Obtaining your HIV treatment

We will arrange for these to be available for you to pick up at the clinic, or from one of the local hospital pharmacies. We are also looking at a home delivery service. Please phone the clinic on tel. 01482 336367 when you start your last tablet pack and order a repeat prescription.

What to expect - worried about HIV

You will meet with one of our experience nurses or health advisers who will explain the HIV test to you, what it means and getting your test results. We will also help you to reduce your risk of getting HIV. You will also be offered tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, and you may benefit from a hepatitis B vaccination. You do not need to be examined.

Reduce your risk of HIV by:

  • Use condoms correctly - our nurses can talk you through the best choice of condoms for you and how to put a condom on properly
  • Get tested regularly e.g. every 3 months
  • Encourage your sexual partners to get tested
  • Have fewer sexual contacts

If you're worried about someone knowing you have visited this website please find information here.

'PEPSE' Treatment - 'Post Exposure Prophylaxis following Sexual Exposure'

This is a type of medication that may stop you becoming HIV positive when you have been exposed to the virus. This treatment can be obtained from Conifer House and SARC. For treatment to be most effective it is recommended that it be taken within 72 hours of HIV exposure.

Or for further information please follow this link.

 Yorkshire MESMAC's African Voices Podcasts

To contribute to reducing time between infection and diagnosis of HIV infection amongst African communities. Yorkshire MESMAC have produced a series of short podcasts on HIV and surrounding issues. The podcasts are in the following different languages: English, French, Swahili, Shona, Luganda and Yoruba.

Each podcast covers essential information for Africans on HIV in five segments:-

  • What is HIV?
  • How is HIV transmitted?
  • Getting tested for HIV
  • Being positive and visiting the clinic
  • HIV and medication

Listeners are also provided with contact details for the 'Do It Right' Information and Advice Line set up to support African people with questions about HIV. To access the podcasts online, click here. Service users can download the free podcast directly on to mobile phones and iPods via the online iTunes store.

If you are unable to view this video please either download Flash player or visit the NHS Choices website

 

Image provided by Renjith Krishnan freedigitalphotos