HIV care

New patients

Receiving a new diagnosis of HIV can be challenging and it may cause many different emotions and questions. We are here to support you through this time. All patients receiving a new diagnosis of HIV at the clinic will be looked after by an experienced nurse practitioner who will provide emotional and psychological support. Within two weeks of your diagnosis you will be seen by a specialist doctor who oversee your care. You are welcome to bring a relative, close friend or carer with you to your appointment. 

During your appointment we will:

• ask you about your medical and sexual history
• carry out a complete physical examination and blood tests
• provide specialist and healthy living advice
• prescribe any necessary medications. 

As we are a teaching hospital, medical students may be present for some of your appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know.  

Call us to book an appointment on 0203 312 1225 option 2.

Follow-up appointments

We provide routine HIV care and a same day review service for HIV related issues. We have a specialist day unit for investigations and ongoing treatment for HIV positive patients. Monitoring blood tests are carried out every six months for stable patients with other tests offered annually, including cervical smears in women, anal smears in at-risk individuals and sexually transmitted infection screening. Stable patients are reviewed annually by a consultant and by a nurse after six months.

Emergency cinic

The Wharfside HIV emergency clinic is for the assessment of serious HIV-related problems that have just started or suddenly got worse

Once you have contacted us, you will be given a video clinic appointment, usually on the same day. Please wait for us to join the call as the clinic can get very busy and we may be delayed. If you cannot use the video service, we will call your mobile phone.

If you have a HIV-related problem please call the clinic on 0203 312 5253 during working hours. We will aim to book you in to be seen as soon as possible. Please have a list of current medications.

Contact us

Monday to Friday: Please call us between 09.00 and 17.00 on 020 3312 5253. Leave a message with your contact number that we can call back on.

Out of hours (after 17.00 Monday to Friday or at weekends): Wharfside clinic is closed. Please use urgent medical services (eg 111/Emergency Department) as required.  If you have an urgent HIV prescription issue please contact Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Switchboard 020 3315 6666 and ask for the on call HIV team. 

Patient information leaflets

• HIV testing
• Information on treatment for PEP following sexual exposure to HIV

Additional information for patients

Please see these links and leaflets from trusted sources for helpful information about living with HIV:

• Introduction to antiretroviral treatment (ART) guide from I-Base
• More I-Base guides to living with and treating HIV
• Pocket guides to HIV treatments, adherence, and more from I-Base
• Leaflets from HIV Pharmacy Association
• HIV drug interactions checker
• Care Information Exchange
• British HIV Association