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.

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Positive Gay Outcomes on the Mersey

posted: 15/10/2009

Positive Outcomes is a half day mini conference for professionals. Sahir House, with George House Trust, the Armistead Centre and Terrence Higgins Trust Wirral, are promoting new services for HIV positive gay and bisexual men on Merseyside and improving how the statutory and voluntary sectors work together.

The aims are:
• up to date information on the wide range of community services for HIV+ gay and bisexual men
• joined-up services for HIV positive men across the sectors
• fast and effective referrals
 

The programme will include:
• Details of newly diagnosed courses, residential weekends and other services from Sahir House and George House Trust;
• Details of peer support, home visits, specialist counselling, in depth one to one casework services from THT and Armistead;
• Discussion on improving partnership working to meet people’s needs
 

Who for?
Anyone involved in supporting or improving the lives of HIV positive gay or bisexual men in Merseyside, including commissioners, community nurses, drugs workers, GPs, health advisors, medical specialists, nurse specialists, public health specialists, social workers and support workers are invited.

Where and When?
Friday 09.30-12.30, 23 October 2009, in Liverpool City Centre.
 

Booking essential
Free but you need to book in advance. A few places still available – to book please email Nicholas Kavanagh at Sahir House or ring him on 0151 708 9080.