Last updated, October 2008

Next due for update, October 2009

It is almost certain that you will receive your HIV care from a specialist HIV clinic. It’s equally likely that from time to time you will have to use non-HIV services for your healthcare. This factsheet explains why it may be important to tell your GP, dentist, or in some cases high-street pharmacist or complementary therapies practitioner, that you are HIV-positive and if you are taking anti-HIV drugs.

GPs

Everybody who is HIV-positive is advised to register with a GP. In order for your GP to provide the most appropriate care, it is important that they know if you have any serious medical conditions, this includes HIV, or are taking medicines that a hospital specialist has prescribed to you, such as anti-HIV medication.

GPs are not allowed to refuse to register you because you are HIV-positive, or discriminate against you in any way because you are HIV-positive or because of your race, sexuality, sex or lifestyle.

A lot of people are concerned that informing their GP that they have HIV could have implications if they apply for a mortgage or life assurance. Your GP records are confidential, but it is true that if you apply for life cover the company will almost certainly ask about your medical history and ask to have access to your GP records. You should be aware, however, that if you fail to tell a life insurance company that you are HIV-positive when you apply for a home loan it could have very serious consequences later.

Your HIV clinic may have a list of recommended GPs in your area.

Dentists

When you register with a dentist you will be asked to fill out a form describing your medical history. This will ask you if you are HIV-positive and have certain other illnesses such as hepatitis B or C.

According to the professional body for UK dentists, a dentist should not discriminate against you because you disclose your HIV status. Sadly this has not always been the case. Dentists have sometimes claimed that this is to protect themselves and their other patients from HIV. This is not acceptable. Standard sterilisation and infection control procedures are sufficient to ensure that no patient poses a risk to dental staff or other patients.

Telling your dentist you have HIV can have benefits. They can know to check for certain gum problems that can occur more often in people with HIV. Also, it is wise to tell your dentist if you are taking any medication prescribed to treat HIV or any other infections as dentists may need to use drugs that could interact with them.

If you are worried about telling a dentist, then ask your HIV clinic to recommend one. They may even have a specialist HIV dentist.

Your dental records are confidential.

Pharmacists

A pharmacist may ask you what medicines you are taking when they dispense a prescription or when you buy over the counter medication. Some over-the-counter medicines (medicines available without a doctor’s prescription), for example hayfever tablets, can interact dangerously with certain anti-HIV drugs. It can be especially hard to maintain your confidentiality at a high street pharmacy counter, so if you do need over the counter medicines on a regular basis it might be wise to discuss this with your HIV doctor or specialist HIV pharmacist.

Complementary health practitioners

Many people with HIV use complementary therapies such as acupuncture. You may wish to disclose your health status to them. It should not make a difference to the kind of therapy they offer you.

However, complementary practitioners are not as well regulated as medical professionals. You may wish to check confidentially policies before disclosing any health details.

If you are advised to take any complementary or alternative therapy check with your doctor or HIV pharmacist that it is safe. Some alternative medicines such as the herbal anti-depressant St John’s wort can stop some anti-HIV drugs working properly. Even if you tell a complementary practioner that you are taking anti-HIV drugs they are not guaranteed to know of any dangerous interactions.