My HIV clinic has told me I need to register with a GP, why?

It is important to have a GP (general practitioner, or family doctor). GPs can provide services and healthcare which are not available at your HIV clinic.

These include:

• Treatment and care for everyday health issues. More and more people with HIV are living longer, healthier lives and their HIV care is just one aspect of their healthcare needs.
• Repeat prescriptions for medicines that you need that are not directly related to your HIV care.
• Referals to other medical specialists.
• Home visits - your GP is the only doctor who can visit you in your own home if you are too ill to come to the surgery.

Why can’t my HIV clinic do these things?

HIV medicine is a medical specialism - HIV clinics need to spend their time and their money dealing with issues directly related to HIV treatment and care.

Some people were able to use their HIV clinic as a sort of GP in the past - but many clinics are now directing people to GPs for their healthcare needs that are not directly related to HIV.

How do I find a GP?

You can only be registered with one GP and you must live in the practice area of the GP you register with. Alternatively, NHS Direct can provide you with a list of GPs in your area - you can contact them by telephoning 0845 4647.

Many HIV clinics keep a list of GPs and will be able to direct you to a GP with experience of looking after people with HIV.

Sometimes GPs cannot accept any more patients as they have reached the maximum number of patients on their list they can care for.

If you cannot find a GP with an open list then contact your local Community Health Council.

I’m worried that my GP won’t have experience of looking after people like me and might discriminate against me so I’m tempted not to say I have HIV.

It’s important that your GP knows that you have HIV so they can offer you the best possible care.

Your GP cannot refuse to accept you as a patient because you have HIV (or any other medical condition for that matter), nor can they refuse to accept patients because they are gay or because of their race. Nor can GPs cannot provide you with less favourable treatment because of these issues.

Many GPs, particularly in cities will already have patients with HIV and are very aware of issues surrounding HIV, sexuality and race.

What about other staff at GPs like the receptionists?

Just like the receptionists at your HIV clinic, the receptionists and other staff at your GP cannot discriminate you.

What if I am discriminated against, or treated less favourably?

Complain! It is illegal to discriminate against you because you have HIV and totally against the professional standards of GPs and the NHS to discriminate or offer less favourable treatment to people because you have a particular illness or because of issues like sexuality or race.

Your GP will have a procedure for complaints. You cannot be treated less favourably because you are complaining, nor can you be removed from a GP’s list because you complain.

Remember, you can always move GP practice or if see a different GP within your practice.

Are my notes at my GP confidential?

Your medical records at your GP are just as confidential as your hospital notes - other than in very exceptional circumstances nobody can see your medical records without your written consent.

You might make applications for jobs or mortgages which ask for medical histories or access to your medical records. If you try and hide things in medical records it might mean cause problems later.

Sometimes GPs write on the cover of a person’s notes key information such as drug allergies and serious medical conditions. This can mean that your HIV diagnosis is very visible on your GP notes. Many GPs will be very sensitive about this and will avoid writing this information in  a visible way, but if they do and you are unhappy then mention it and ask for a new set of notes to be made up.

Will my HIV doctor and GP communicate?

It’s important that your HIV clinic has details of your GP. Each time you see your HIV doctor they will write to your GP and say how you are doing. If you don’t want your HIV doctor to mention something to your GP then say so.

Will my GP prescribe my HIV drugs?

No. Your GP will not interfere in anyway with any aspect of your HIV care.

Your HIV clinic will still do tests such as viral load and CD4 cell counts to monitor your HIV and provide you with anti-HIV treatment. They will also provide you with drugs you need if you develop any illnesses because of HIV.

Okay, I feel unwell - where should I go, my GP or my HIV clinic?

This depends. Always mention any unusual symptoms to your your HIV doctor at your routine appointments.

But between these appointments, it can be difficult to tell if symptoms you are experiencing are just due to routine illness like colds or flu or warning signs of more serious illnesses or treatment side-effects. Use your own judgment.

If you have just started taking anti-HIV treatment, your doctor and pharmacists should have warned you what side-effects to expect. In particular, if you have started treatment with abacavir (Ziagen also combined with 3TC in Kivexa and 3TC and AZT in Trizivir) you should be warned about a very dangerous allergic reaction and who to contact if this develops.

What about getting an appointment with my GP?

You can book appointments in advance for routine issues, but if you become ill and need to see a GP urgently then you can call in the morning (usually before 11am) and ask for an emergency appointment. This may vary according to the procedures of the practice you are registered with. Some GPs also have a ‘walk-in’ service to see a doctor or a practice nurse, but waits can vary and be very long at times.

If you become very ill and are too ill to travel to your GP they can visit you at home.

If you become ill outside normal working hours your call to your GP will go to an out of hours service.  A doctor can visit you at home if necessary.

Will visits to my GP cost me anything?

If you are entitled to free NHS treatment and care then all NHS services provided by your GP will be free.

Your GP will charge for services such as signing passport applications.

Unless you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, then most drugs prescribed by your GP will involve a prescription charge.