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Living with HIV

Services are provided in Kent by experienced teams of clinical support workers, nurses, speciality doctors, HIV consultants and specialist pharmacists to support patients living with HIV. We also offer health screening and can refer you to services that focus on keeping you well.

If you are already HIV positive or have been recently diagnosed positive, you can call us directly on 01622 225713 or 0300 790 0245 to make an appointment. You don’t need a referral from your GP or your previous clinic.

If you need urgent advice, call 01622 225713 or 01227 783120 (Monday to Friday).

Our services are currently held in clinics across Kent in these locations:

  • Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
  • William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
  • Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
  • Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone
  • Maidstone Hospital
  • Gravesham Community Hospital
  • Community based outpatient HIV clinics in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks

The initial services provided include:

  • an HIV medical assessment, including full examination and relevant blood tests to monitor your condition
  • full explanations of your test results and advice on any follow up treatment required
  • information regarding current HIV treatments available to you
  • treatment options when starting or changing therapy
  • help and advice with the management of side effects.

The ongoing services offered include:

  • consultant led clinics for new patients, those starting medication, patients who are pregnant, patients with co-infections and treatment experienced patients
  • clinical specialist nurse led clinics for stable patients well established on treatment
  • specialist pharmacist led clinics for adherence support, drug interaction spot-checks and support with medication side effects
  • emotional support for those newly diagnosed and their partners and family
  • access to a home delivery service for medication for all stable patients.

We also support the antenatal care of pregnant women with HIV.

We have close links and referral pathways with both Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Kings College Hospital, supporting the care of patients with tuberculosis, cancer and renal disease including care locally whenever possible.

We can make referrals to other services where needed.

We can offer our patients access to research trials through our links with the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Clinical Research Network hosted by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. Current studies we can recruit you to include:

  • the RIVER trial (patients diagnosed within 4 weeks of infection)
  • a study looking at the menopause in HIV positive women.

Please ask if you are aware of a research study you would like to take part in.