Getting HIV treatment and care

You are going to need specialist medical care for your HIV. Most people in the UK are tested for HIV at sexual health clinics (although some people are diagnosed through other medical services, especially antenatal clinics), which usually have a specialist HIV clinic attached. The doctor, nurse or counsellor who gave you your test result should have made a follow-up appointment for you to see a specialist HIV doctor. If this wasn’t arranged, you need to make sure that you are registered with a specialist HIV clinic as soon as possible - contact the clinic or doctor who conducted your test to do this. You can read more about HIV clinics in the section called Getting HIV treatment and care .

If you are well at the time of your HIV diagnosis, you’ll probably need to go to the clinic for a check-up every three months or so. At your appointment with your doctor you’ll have an opportunity to discuss your health and ask questions, and you will have some blood tests to monitor your health. It is really important that you go to your clinic for these regular check-ups, even if you are feeling well. Keeping in touch with your clinic, and having your health regularly monitored, could help you live a longer, healthier life.