HIV Medical Services

With HIV, the majority of treatment is provided by an HIV specialist clinic at the local GUM(Genito Urinary Medicine) Clinic. Some GUM clinics have developed into HIV treatment centres and are therefore likely to be more advanced in the treatment options they offer. In Brighton this is the Lawson Unit based at outpatients, Royal Sussex County Hospital. (See here for contact details) This service operates under it's own confidentiality rules which means all information about you remains strictly confidential to this service.

General Practitioners (GP's)

Everyone has the right to register with a local doctor. Make sure you have confidence in your GP and practice. If you are not registered with a doctor, ask friends who they recommend, get a list of GP's from your library, and /or ask your HIV clinic for advice.

Telling your GP about your diagnosis may have advantages; GP's are normally nearer to home, responsible for providing 24 hour medical care and can visit you at home if needed. Be aware that if a potential employer asks your GP for a medical report on you - while your GP should ask for your permission to disclose medical information about you, your HIV status cannot ethically be omitted if your GP is aware of it.

You may find that you are encouraged to use the specialist HIV clinic for specific HIV related check-ups, for example, viral load and CD4 tests, appointments with your HIV specialist doctor, and your GP for other medical/health services. If you are unsure of whether to go to the clinic or GP, you can phone the HIV Clinic and a nurse will be able to advise you, based on the symptoms you describe.

You will need to be sure your GP is able to consider your HIV positive status when treating you, if you are not sure of this, you could change your GP, or you could first try to educate your GP to help them to respond to your needs more appropriately. Your HIV specialist clinic, or an HIV agency may be able to help you with this!

Going for check-ups

There are two main diagnostic tools HIV specialists use to assess how much HIV is affecting an individuals immune system, CD4 count and Viral Load.

CD4 counts measure the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. As these cells are thought to be the main defence the immune system has against infections and viruses, they can give an indication of how an individuals body/immune system is coping with the fight against HIV. A high count means the body's immune system is coping well and still able to fight infections. A low count means that HIV has compromised the immune system.

Viral Load measures the quantity of virus particles present in the blood by detecting HIV genetic material. A high count means there is a lot of HIV present and the immune system may well be compromised. A low count means there is less HIV present and the immune system is still fighting infections well.