Admin Q&As:
I need to make or cancel an appointment.
If you need to make or cancel an appointment please call our Reception Team on 0113 3926762.
I am going abroad and need a travel letter.
If you are travelling abroad and need a letter to ensure you can keep your medication in your hand luggage please call our Reception Team on 0113 3926762. Please give us as much notice of your travel plans as possible.
You will be asked to confirm your contact details, what medication you are currently taking and when you need the letter by. You will be given the option to collect the letter in person from Reception or have it posted to your home address.
I need a letter confirming I am HIV positive.
If you need a letter confirming your HIV status please contact our Reception Team on 0113 3926762. You will be asked to confirm your details, when you need the letter by and will be given the option to collect the letter in person from Reception or have it posted to your home address.
Medical Q&As:
I need a sexual health screen or I have had sexual contact with someone with a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
If you need a sexual health screen because you have symptoms of an STI or because you have had sexual contact with someone with an STI you should attend Leeds Sexual Health or your local sexual health clinic. If you need a screen for peace of mind i.e. you have no symptoms and as far as you are aware you have not had sex with someone with an STI you can either attend a sexual health service or wait until your next routine clinic visit to Brotherton Wing Clinic (BWC) where we can do an STI screen for you.
We routinely offer everyone attending BWC a sexual health screen at least once a year and more regularly if needed / requested during their routine HIV clinic appointments. We do this in partnership with Leeds Sexual Health for patients attending BWC @ Leeds, with Spectrum for patients attending BWC @ Wakefield and with Locala for patients attending BWC @ Dewsbury. If you have any other questions about sexual health screening at BWC please ask next time you attend clinic.
I need a smear test.
In partnership with Leeds Sexual Health we are now able to offer any of our patients who are due their routine yearly cervical screening (smear) test an appointment at BWC Leeds to have this done. These cervical smear clinics are currently running once a month on Thursdays. If you would like to book an appointment to have this done at BWC please ask a member of the BWC team at your next appointment.
I’m going to run out of my HIV medication before my next appointment – what should I do?
Whenever you make an appointment you should make sure you have enough medication to last until that appointment. However, if for some reason you don’t have enough you should ring the clinic reception on 0113 3926762 as soon as you realise. DO NOT leave it until the day you run out. We will either bring your appointment forward or issue a “top-up” prescription. You will have to come to the Brotherton Wing Clinic (BWC) at Leeds General Infirmary to collect the prescription (even if you usually receive your medication via home delivery) and then take it to the Boots hospital pharmacy to get your tablets.
My tablets look different to how they usually look.
When you receive your medication (either from the pharmacy, the clinic or via home delivery) it is important that you check it straight away to make sure you’ve received what you were expecting. Some types of HIV medication are made by a few different companies so the packaging or even the medication itself might look different depending on which company has made it. This type of medication is called “generic” medication and if your HIV treatment comes as a generic this should have been explained to you by your HIV doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If you are not aware that you are on generic medication or you don’t think this is the reason your medication looks different to usual you should tell the pharmacy or call the clinic reception (on 0113 3926762) straight away. You shouldn’t take the medication if you think it’s wrong but we don’t want you to miss any doses either which is why it’s important to check your medication as soon as you get it.
If you have any other questions or concerns about your medications then please call us as soon as possible on the above number.
My GP/other doctor has started me on some new medication, is it OK to take with my HIV medication?
This will depend on what HIV medication you are on and what the new medication is. Some medication that you can get from the GP is not safe to take with HIV medication so it’s always best to check. For advice ring the clinic reception on 0113 3926762. The receptionist will take a message and either a pharmacist or specialist nurse will ring you back. Remember medication can come in lots of different forms, not just tablets and capsules. Liquids, drops, inhalers, creams, patches, suppositories, injections and herbal/alternative remedies should all be checked out too.
I’ve bought some medication from the chemist/supermarket, is it OK to take with my HIV medication?
This will depend on what HIV medication you are on and what medication you have bought. Even medication that you can buy from a chemist or supermarket could cause problems if you take it with HIV medication so it’s always best to check. For advice ring the clinic reception on 0113 3926762. The receptionist will take a message and either a pharmacist or specialist nurse will ring you back. Remember medication can come in lots of different forms, not just tablets and capsules. Liquids, drops, inhalers, creams, patches, suppositories, injections and herbal/alternative remedies should all be checked out too.
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