Continuing HIV care during swine flu epidemic
Swine flu (also known as A/H1N1 flu) is increasing in London (and the rest of the country) and may affect far more people in the autumn.
If this happens, there is a risk of disruption to routine NHS services and transport so the ability of your usual HIV service to provide care may be disrupted as well.
From what we know now, swine flu is not more severe in people with HIV infection who are well, but we are in the early stages of the pandemic and this may change.
There are some easy steps that you can take to ensure that your HIV care is not affected during the potential disruption to HIV services.
- If you develop symptoms of flu (temperature >38oC accompanied by two or more of cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache or muscle aches) then please do not attend the Grahame Hayton Unit– we will not have anti-flu treatment to give you. You should stay at home and phone the National Flu Hotline (0800 1 513 513), NHS direct (0845 4647) or your GP.
- If you do not have a GP then register with one now. It is important to have a GP as flu vaccine if available is most likely to be given through your GP practice.
- Ask for more HIV treatment before your supply gets too low. Service disruption may cause delay in getting further medication. So please contact your clinic earlier than usual to ensure that your medication does not run out. Never have less than four weeks supply.
- Know what medication you are taking. When you get your next prescription, you should be given a copy, please keep this somewhere safe. If there are difficulties getting to clinic this will enable you to get medication from another clinic in an emergency.
- Ensure that your clinic has up to date contact details. In an emergency situation routine appointments may be suspended. To notify you, your clinic will need your phone number, ideally mobile and land line.
- In an emergency additional information about provision of HIV clinics, and an emergency number to speak to someone about your HIV care, will be available on our website at www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/hiv/about.asp
- or on the usual telephone number 020 7377 7039
For more information from the Trust on Swine Flu click here.
Other useful websites include:
If you have moved address or changed your telephone number recently then please ensure reception have the correct details.
This information has been devised for all services in central London in collaboration with the London Specialised Commissioning Group for HIV.