Information

Lawson Unit – People living with HIV

Please do NOT attend our clinics if you or someone you live with has symptoms of COVID-19 / is awaiting a COVID-19 test result. 

Due to COVID-19, doctor and nurse specialist appointments are by telephone (unless we have asked you to come into clinic). Blood test appointments remain face-to-face. For information about HIV and COVID-19, please check the latest BHIVA Guidelines. For a routine sexual health check-up, please order a home test kit.

Phone line opening times:

*Please note our phone lines are closed on Bank Holidays

LAWSON UNIT – COVID-19 advice for people living with HIV 

During the current pandemic we are still open but responding to a rapidly changing situation in the hospital. If you are unwell with COVID symptoms please follow the NHS advice.

The majority of our doctor’s appointments are being held by telephone. Pharm@Sea is providing a delivery service for medications. We will continue to supply antiretroviral therapy as normal.

If you have concerns about your HIV-related health or mental health, please do ring us for advice or a telephone assessment and we will arrange for one of our doctors to see you where this is indicated.

We advise all people living with HIV are vaccinated for COVID-19.  BHIVA have issued some advice about vaccination for people living with HIV which can be found here.

Other advice from the British HIV Association:

1. People with CD4 count of more than 200 and who have an undetectable viral load on antiretroviral therapy are considered at no greater risk than the general population; follow general advice.
2. People with CD4 count of less than 200, or people who have a detectable viral load or who are not on antiretroviral therapy may be at higher risk of severe illness; be stringent in following general advice.
3. People with a CD4 count of less than 50 or who have had an opportunistic infection in the previous 6 months; follow any government shielding advice for the extremely clinically vulnerable group.
4. People with HIV who have multiple other health conditions may be advised by their GP or HIV doctor to follow advice as outlined in point 3 above.

People are advised against all but essential travel on public transport. If you need help to travel to an appointment contact NHS volunteer responders on 08081963646.

For further detailed information see the British HIV Association website

For COVID-19 advice as to what do to if you have symptoms or updates please see latest government guidance here

Last updated: 25th Nov 2021