The outlook has never been better for people with HIV in the UK. The right HIV treatment and care can mean that you have a good chance of living a long and healthy life, with a near-normal life span.

To make sure that you receive the most appropriate treatment and care, it’s very important that you go to an HIV clinic for regular check-ups. If you are entitled to National Health Service (NHS) care, then all the treatment and care you receive from your NHS HIV clinic will be free.

In the UK, standards for HIV treatment and care are set and monitored by the British HIV Association (BHIVA), the professional association for HIV doctors and other healthcare professionals. These standards are reviewed regularly. In 2011, BHIVA issued guidelines on the sort of routine monitoring someone living with HIV in the UK should have. You can find out more about these guidelines at www.bhiva.org/monitoring.aspx. The information in this booklet reflects these guidelines.