UK GUM CLINICS

Do U.K gum clinics just allow people to take hiv test when they walk in there or do they ask for G.P's referral to take the test?  someone fron U.K who has been to gum clinic let me know pls

[Veryworried72]

You have to make an appointment but you don't have to have a referral from your GP you can book directly with the GUM clinic

[kane320]

thanks dude..  do doctors in gum clinic turn down the permission based on our description of exposure.. like if we say that we had only protected sex only

[Frank303]

No they don't turn you away because the exposure you were concerned about is too low risk. You should be offered an HIV test irrespective of risk, symptoms.

per BASHH guidelines.

• Any patient presenting to a GUM clinic should be offered an HIV test regardless of signs or symptoms of disease or risk factors for infection.
• It is recommended that patients have a baseline HIV test done at presentation and if necessary this be repeated at 3 months from the time of any risk activity.
• People exposed to the risk of HIV should not be fully reassured until at least 3 months have passed during which they remain sero-negative (the window period).

The network of public clinics in London is first class.

If you turn up early and are prepared to wait they will see you, though they prefer an appointment to be made.

At some clinics eg Lloyd at Guy's & St Thomas's you need an appointment for a rapid test which are only available certain days . The Doctors prefer to test by DUO anyway -it is cheaper, they have more experience with them as rapid testing is only in evaluation.

[Frank303]

If you want details of GUM clinics and THT FASTest clinics check check the THT website
GUM:
http://www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/hivandstitesting/gumsandhivclinics/
FasTEST
http://www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/hivandstitesting/fastest/