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Visiting your HIV clinic
This factsheet provides an idea of what a typical routine visit to your HIV clinic to see your HIV doctor might involve. You’ll probably see a number of different people during your visit. There’s no single ‘experience’ of attending an HIV clinic, mainly because working practices differ between different clinics.
Before your visit to the clinic
If you are planning a visit for a routine check-up, then make sure that you book an appointment at least a few weeks in advance. In the days before your appointment, think about any questions that you want to ask your doctor. Make a list to help you to remember.
If you cannot for any reason make your appointment, contact your clinic as soon as possible so you can rebook your appointment and they can offer your original slot to another patient.
Arrival at the clinic
You should make every effort to attend at the time of your appointment. If you are late, then you may have a long wait or may not be seen by the doctor you had the appointment with.
When you arrive at the clinic, go straight to reception. Tell them your name, clinic number and who you have come to see. They will log your details and arrival time.
Don’t have anything to eat or drink whilst waiting if you have come to the clinic because of an emergency in case you need tests or an operation.
Waiting times
Clinics make every effort to ensure that you are seen as close as possible to your appointment time, but delays can occur. You should be kept informed about any expected delays. If you have been kept waiting for more than half and hour, then return to reception and say who you have an appointment with, what time the appointment was at, and how long you have been waiting. You are perfectly entitled to ask what the delay is and how much longer you can expect to be kept waiting. Don’t lose your cool and be polite. Your clinic should have a complaints procedure if you are not happy.
Seeing your doctor
When your doctor is ready to see you, he/she will almost certainly call you by your name. If you are seeing the doctor for the first time he/she should introduce him/herself. Your doctor should ask for your consent if a medical student or other healthcare professional wants to sit-in on your consultation.
You should be asked how you are and if you have any particular concerns. If there are any tests results these should be given to you and the doctor should explain what they mean.
You may have a physical examination and your doctor should explain why this is necessary. If you require any further tests, you should be told why you need to have these and what they will involve.
If you are being prescribed medicines to treat HIV or anything else, your doctor should tell you what these medicines are, how often you need to take them, if there are any food or drink restrictions and what side-effects you might experience.
Interrupt your doctor and ask questions if you do not understand anything he/she is telling you.
Arising from your consultation, it might sometimes be necessary for you to see a doctor or healthcare worker with a specialism in an area other than HIV. Your doctor should explain if a referral has been made and what you can expect to happen next.
At the end of your consultation you will be asked if you have any questions and your doctor will tell you when you next need to come and see him/her.
This is unlikely to be the end of your visit to the clinic, however.
Blood tests
Everybody who is HIV-positive will need to have regular blood tests. Your doctor will complete forms during your consultation with him/her requesting the particular tests you require. You can expect these to be performed by a nurse or phlebotomist in your HIV clinic. There may be another wait.
Pharmacy
Larger HIV clinics have a specialist pharmacy where you should go to have your prescription dispensed. They will stock all the anti-HIV drugs and medicines used to treat illness that are often seen in people with HIV. Sometimes it may be necessary to go to a general outpatient pharmacy in the hospital to which your clinic is attached to get non-HIV medicines dispensed. Often your HIV doctor will only be able to prescribe a maximum of two weeks supply of such medicines and you should go to your GP if you need further supplies. The hospital pharmacist will explain any new medicines to you and ask about any allergies you have and about any other drugs you are taking (this is because interactions between medicines can occur).
In almost all circumstances, you must take the prescription your HIV doctor gives you to the clinic/hospital pharmacy. A high street chemist will not be able to help you.
Finally
Return to reception and make an appointment for your next visit, even if this is several months away. Planning early will help you find a time that is convenient for you.