Rapid Testing on the Mersey

posted: 23/03/2010

People may feel they have taken risks with HIV and have not had the courage to get tested. National and local figures show around 1 in 3 people have not yet found out they already have HIV. In Liverpool a new Rapid Test service means there is no waiting for the answer or need to go back to collect the HIV test results.

Around 150 people on Merseyside are living with undiagnosed HIV, according to one of Liverpool’s nurse specialists, Bob Downes, HIV Nurse Specialist at NHS Liverpool Community Health.

Rapid Test in 20 minutes

The simple test being used takes just 20 minutes. It’s an easy to use drop-in service, and people don’t have to go away and collect the result later. You get the result after only a few minutes wait.

Testing proving popular
The pilot’s proving popular - 84% of users of the service who were surveyed said they preferred the rapid test to having a standard laboratory HIV test, and 92% said they would recommend the service to others.

Testing prevents late diagnosis
Bob said: “It is a shocking but true that 30% of HIV infections in the community are undiagnosed. “Being diagnosed with HIV is no longer a death sentence. More and more people are living and working with HIV than ever before, but it is vital that it is caught in the early stages to give people the best possible chance of managing the virus. We would urge anyone who fears they may have exposed themselves to HIV in the past to think about getting tested, so that they can either put their mind at rest, if the test is negative, or take action, if it proves positive.”

Vida Spaine, the Nurse Coordinator for the service at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: “This new technology is now being used in Liverpool for the first time, partly in response to research by the National AIDS Trust, which has shown that public knowledge of HIV in the UK is declining and there is evidence of a lack of understanding about HIV.”

The free, same hour, drop-in, while you wait HIV testing services for local communities in Liverpool is lead by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with NHS Liverpool Community Health, the Health Protection Agency, Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Liverpool John Moores University.

Serena Cavanagh from Sahir House, the Liverpool-based HIV support organisation, said: “We are now in our 25th year of offering services to people living with or affected by HIV and the testing procedure has improved so much. 25 years ago you would have to wait up to 2 weeks to get the result, but today’s rapid testing gives you a result in 20 minutes. Although having an HIV test is still a difficult choice to make, people are aware of their choices and options sooner.”

Where?
Here’s where you can get tested by this free and confidential HIV Rapid Test service.
 

• Well Travelled Clinics, (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA Thursday 9am-12pm, contact Vida Spaine on 0151 705 3163        Directions 
• Hartington Road Family Health Clinic, Hartington Road / Lesseps Road, Toxteth, Liverpool, L8 0SG  Monday – Friday, contact 0151 285 2802
• The Liverpool Centre for Sexual Health, Department of GUM, 1st Floor, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, contact 0151 706 2620.

Flu Vaccine on Mersey

posted: 23/11/2009

Liverpool hospital is writing to people with HIV to encourage people to have both winter and swine flu (HINI) vaccinations at their GP. People can take and show the letter to their GP.

The letter to patients says

With the winter flu season approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you about your seasonal and H1N1 swine flu vaccination available from your GP surgery. Vaccination is the best way of protecting yourself against infection and those close to you by preventing the spread of the virus.

As you have HIV we would strongly advise that you take advantage of the free vaccines to prevent catching seasonal and H1N1 swine flu and developing potentially dangerous complications. Patients with HIV Infection will need to receive a second swine flu vaccination after 3 weeks.

More information about the H1N1 swine flu vaccination is provided overleaf.

It is in your interests to be vaccinated against both swine flu and seasonal flu. Help safeguard yourself by booking an appointment at your earliest convenience at your GP surgery. We will not be providing routine flu vaccinations in clinic.

If you do not have a GP we advise that you register with a GP as you will require a GP to manage any non HIV related illnesses.

If you already have appointments for flu vaccinations or you have already received the seasonal and H1N1 swine flu vaccines, please ignore this letter.

Yours sincerely

Dr SH Khoo
(on behalf of the Liverpool Centre for Sexual Health and the Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust)

?........................................................................................................................

Dear GP

Your patient ................................................. is immunocompromised and requires vaccination for seasonal (single dose) and pandemic H1N1 influenza (2 doses at least 3 weeks apart).

Many thanks

Swine flu and the swine flu vaccination

What is swine flu? It is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of influenza virus. The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to those caused by seasonal flu. Swine flu is generally a mild infection that comes on quickly and lasts for about a week. It causes fever, tiredness, cough and sore throat. Other symptoms include headache, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea.

However, for those with underlying health conditions or who are pregnant or who are having medical treatment such as chemotherapy, swine flu can be very serious.

Why am I being offered the swine flu vaccination? The groups of people who are most vulnerable to serious illness as a result of swine flu are being offered the vaccine first. Based on the current evidence (from the UK and elsewhere), the highest rates for severe disease are in: people with underlying health conditions; and pregnant women.

As with seasonal flu, people who have underlying health conditions (in particular people with respiratory disease) are at an increased risk from the complications of swine flu infection and are more likely to be hospitalised.

If you suffer from a condition that affects your immune system, the people you live with can also get the swine flu vaccination to help to protect you. Please try to encourage the people in your household to contact their GP to discuss getting themselves vaccinated against swine flu.

Will my regular seasonal flu jab protect me against swine flu? No, because seasonal flu and swine flu are caused by different flu viruses.

Will there be any side effects? All vaccinations can produce side effects such as soreness and swelling at the site of the injection. This vaccine is not live so cannot cause flu. Some vaccines, including vaccines similar to the swine flu vaccine, can cause flu-like symptoms but they are very much milder than having the flu itself and only last for a day or so.

Can the swine flu vaccine be given to people with an egg allergy? The GSK vaccine Pandemrix is prepared in hens’ eggs (the same as seasonal flu vaccines) and so should not be given to individuals who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (shock or acute difficulty in breathing) to egg products; they should receive Celvapan.

Further Questions If you have any further questions relating to having this vaccination you should talk to your GP.

image credit

Liverpool Gay Rapid HIV Test Push

posted: 20/11/2009

Liverpool’s Armistead gay community support service is offering free, confidential, 20 minute HIV testing for gay and bisexual men, around World AIDS Day.

Testing is on these dates and times. Results after 20 minutes:

• Evenings                                    Thursday 26 November                                 4pm - 9pm
• All Day on World AIDS Day            Tuesday 1 December                                    9am - 6pm
• Afternoon and evening                  Wednesday and Thursday 2 and 3 December    12pm - 7pm

Appointments, referrals, and further information - Armistead Project, 1 Stanley Street, Liverpool, L1 6AA 0151 227 1893                      email

Part of the Liverpool Gets Tested project of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Over 1 in 4 people living with HIV in the UK do not know they have HIV.
Knowing your HIV status protects both your and your partners’ health.
 

image credit: the heart of Liverpool’s gay quarter

Part-time Work at Sahir House

posted: 29/05/2009

Three part time jobs are on offer at Sahir House, which is the Liverpool-based HIV multicultural support & information centre offering support to people living with & affected by HIV across Merseyside.

One job is 2 days a week, and the others are 1 day a week, and 4 hours a week.

photo credit

Women & Asylum Worker (readvertised)
Sahir House are looking for a suitably experienced female worker to provide support to HIV positive women seeking asylum. The post holder will be required to provide confidential support, network with other agencies, produce monitoring data & influence practice in this area.

Knowledge of asylum system issues is essential, particularly with regard to trauma that women seeking asylum are likely to have experienced and how this affects their asylum claims. Excellent written & communication skills are essential.

2 days per week; flexible hours negotiable.
NJC scale 5: £19,427 – £21,306 pro rata; actual salary of £7,770.80 – 8522.40 (pay award pending).

This post is a re-advertisement – previous applicants will be reconsidered.

Men’s Group Facilitator
Sahir House are looking for a suitably experienced male worker to facilitate Sahir House Gay Men’s Group & the Men’s Wellbeing Group. The post holder will be expected to work mainly with HIV positive men, though may on occasion be required to work with other members of Sahir House. Preference will be shown to candidates with experience of working with clients from the following groups:

• HIV positive people;
• Gay and bisexual men;
• Asylum seekers and refugees.

4 hours per week
£13.10 per hour (pay award pending).

Please note that these 2 posts are exempt from the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 as the gender of the post holder is a genuine occupational requirement.
They are funded for one year initially; probation period applies, possible funding continuing into 2012.

Employability Advisor
sahir House want a part-time worker to assist HIV positive people in accessing employment. Experience in the following areas would be ideal:

• Helping people build confidence & self esteem
• Working with the long term unemployed
• Helping with job search & job application skills

1 day per week (7.4 hours)
£22,001 – £23,473 pro rata;
Actual salary of £4400.20 - £4694.60 (pay award pending).

Funded for 1 year initially, probation period applies. Sahir House is currently seeking funds to continue this post beyond the initial year.

The closing date for all posts is 5pm Friday 12 June 2009.

Sahir House is located at a confidential address in Liverpool City Centre. Application forms are available from Sahir House.

Email
 

0151 708 9080
 

Sahir House
PO Box 11
Liverpool
L69 1SN

Armistead Regrets to Say

posted: 28/05/2009

Armistead Project, in Liverpool city centre, has announced that the member of staff who worked closely with gay and bisexual men living with HIV, Phil Yates, has died suddenly, aged 29.

Phil worked in all parts of Armistead for 10 years. His warmth, kindness and energy touched everyone from the many members of the Positive Group, to the men using the Drop-in, and beyond. Phil was the youngest member of the Armistead family.

Phil had a great capacity to love, but ultimately felt too alone. We all wish he could click those elusive ruby slippers and come home. We hope Glinda was there to meet him in Oz.
 

Funeral and burial

The funeral is tomorrow, Friday 29 May 2009 at 9.15am.

There will be a Requiem Mass at St Joseph's RC Church, Willowbank Road, Birkenhead, CH42 7JY
and map and directions are here

He will be buried at 10.30am at Landican Cemetery, Arrowe Park Road, Woodchurch, Wirral
Cemetery map and directions

No black, no flowers please, donations welcome
Phil’s family have requested that no black should be worn and no flowers. Phil had happy memories of India and was committed to veganism and animal rights. Donations to charities or organisations that reflect these themes would be welcomed in place of flowers.

The Armistead Project has a book of remembrance which will be passed to Phil’s family you can contribute to. They will pass on any cards to his the family too.

Armistead thank all who have sent messages of support and remembrance. It means a lot to the Armistead team and reflects the impact that Phil had on all who had contact with him through his work, in the community, and the loss he is to us all.

For more information please call Armistead on 0151 227 1893