HIV

Importance notice: change of care provider for HIV services in Bury, Rochdale and Oldham from 3rd January 2023, click here.

HIV Testing

The best way to avoid illness from HIV and to prevent transmission to partners is to know your HIV status and test. Testing is available through your GP, or at your local sexual health services or you can request a free home test. Some people can remain well with undiagnosed HIV for many years and so it is important to be tested if you have any concerns or do not know your status.

Referrals

People living with HIV can be referred by GPs or other hospital specialists for HIV care, or by transfer from other HIV services. People living with HIV have a choice as to where they access care. We accept inpatient transfers through the infectious diseases on call service (via NMGH switchboard).

Recently diagnosed

We understand that learning that you have HIV can be a very difficult time. Our team is here to help support you through this and we want you to feel as comfortable and informed as possible.

Our first step will be to meet you at a clinic appointment; this will be in person with one of the specialist nurse team. The appointment will allow us to get to know you, discuss any past medical history, provide some information about HIV and answer any questions you may have at this point. Our main aim is to support you in processing this diagnosis by working with you at whatever pace you feel comfortable with. We will take some baseline blood tests on this visit; these will allow us to decide on the most suitable treatment combination for you. We sometimes start treatment at the first visit if appropriate and if people want that.

After this, we will arrange an appointment with a doctor to begin your treatment.

Ongoing care

Once you have got used to your treatment and blood tests show that it is working, you will move to six monthly consultations with blood tests each time. When we see you or speak to you on the phone, we can review your results and discuss any changes to your health, any other medical conditions or new medications and make sure your current treatment is still suitable for you.
We have an on-site pharmacy where medications can be collected.

You will have a named consultant, although you may be seen by a different doctor or a nurse, all part of the team, for some of your consultations.

If you have any questions or concerns in between appointments we encourage you to ring us.

Peer support

We work closely with George House Trust, the HIV support charity, to provide peer support, group services and a range of other support for people living with HIV. Link – https://ght.org.uk/

Our clinicians can refer, or you can contact them directly 0161 274 4499 or Link – https://ght.org.uk/contact-us

Clinic and inpatient locations

We provide HIV inpatient services at North Manchester General Hospital in our specialist unit, including transfer from across the region by referral to infectious diseases on call.

We provide outpatient (clinic) services at North Manchester general Hospital, at Bury, Rochdale and Oldham community sites, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, and many community and GP sites across Manchester.

Meet the team

Senior specialist nurses

• Jill Delaney
• Grace Newbold
• Austin Ceallacaih

Specialist nurses

• Melissa Irving
• Julia ***

Facial lipoatrophy specialist nurse

• Karen Hunter

Senior support workers

• Madeline Brodie
• Michaela Carty

Support workers and results trackers, emergency department testing programme (NMGH, Salford)

• Kaney West

Children & young persons’ specialist nurses

• Sharon Peters

Enhanced care midwife

• Patricia Gay

Clinical Psychologists

• Dr Sarah Rutter
• Dr Katy Bourne
• Claire Briegel

Administrators

• Jenny Lowe
• Jane Abrahams

Lead consultant

• Dr Clare van Halsema

Office hours

08.00 – 18.00, Monday – Friday.
Office numbers – 0161 720 2637, 0161 720 2638

The specialist nursing service is closed on weekends & bank holidays. The ward and inpatient service is open 24 hours a day, every day with specialist doctors on-call and on site as well as the ward nursing team with expertise in care for people living with HIV.

For emergencies out of hours please either attend the emergency department or contact wards J3 & J4 – 0161 720 2540