Coronavirus: Harrison Wing update
In response to coronavirus (COVID-19) we have asked most of our patients to not attend Harrison Wing appointments. However if you think you should attend because you are unwell or need additional support, call us on 020 7188 2815 before coming to the department. If we think you still need to attend the Harrison Wing for monitoring during this time, we will contact you with advice on what you need to do.
For non-urgent medical enquiries
Please email the nurses at harrisonwing.nurse@gstt.nhs.uk with your:
- patient number (if you know it)
- date of birth
- full name
- reason for contacting us.
If you have already been contacted by us regarding your upcoming appointments and medication, the plan that you agreed with the doctor or nurse will not change.
Our new opening hours until further notice
Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.
Changes in the way we care for patients
We are making changes to the way we care for our patients. These changes will keep patients and staff safe and reduce visits to the hospital. These changes will last beyond the temporary adjustments made in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Most review appointments will be 'virtual'. You will still need to attend the department for blood tests but your review appointment with a doctor or senior nurse may be conducted by phone or video consultation. Some face-to-face attendances will be necessary, for example if you need to be physically examined or a change in medication is needed.
We are reviewing upcoming appointments and you will be contacted if there are any changes.
HIV and coronavirus
We realise that this is an anxious time. Everyone should follow the advice on the NHS 111 website.
Who should 'shield'?
- People with a CD4 count less than 50 are advised to 'shield' – this means staying at home for 12 weeks as advised by the government for 'extremely vulnerable' patients.
- Others living with HIV should follow the general advice for the population.
For more information about HIV and coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the British HIV Association (BHIVA) website for regular updates.
Clinic location
Overview
Harrison Wing has delivered specialist care for people living with HIV since 1993, and currently looks after over 3500 individuals. We were previously based in the Lambeth Wing at St Thomas’ Hospital, but moved to our new home in the Southwark Wing at Guy’s Hospital in July 2017.
Over the past three decades since, progress in HIV treatment has been enormous and this is now a manageable long term condition. Our primary aim is to support people to live well with HIV.
Harrison Wing is for people who have already been diagnosed with HIV. If you would like a HIV test, please contact out sexual health service at Burrell Street.
Patients can self refer to our service, or can be referred via a GP or healthcare professional.
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Referrals to our service
We are always happy to accept new patients. If you are not yet registered with us as a patient, but would like to attend the Harrison Wing you can self-refer to our service.
To self refer you can walk in anytime that the department is open. You will need to complete some paperwork so we can register you as a patient. You may be able to see a nurse for your initial assessment at the same time but this is not always possible. You can also call the medical secretaries on the number below to arrange an appointment if that is more convenient for you.
Patients can also be referred by health care professionals, including GPs.
To refer to the service, please contact our medical secretaries:
Tel: 020 7188 2662/3
Email: gst-tr.harrisonwing@nhs.net
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Specialist HIV services
We offer the following specialist services by appointment:
- antenatal clinic (with specialist midwife)
- dietetic services
- email clinic for patients with stable HIV
- emergency clinic (daily)
- hepatitis co-infection clinic for patients with hepatitis B and C co-infection
- HIV pharmacy clinic
- metabolic clinic
- neurocognitive clinic
- newfill clinic for facial lipoatrophy
- renal clinic for patients with HIV and kidney problems
- physiotherapy service
- treatment advice clinic for highly treatment experienced patients
- tuberculosis clinic
- women’s clinic
- young adult clinic for patients aged 18-25.
For sexual health services, please visit our Burrell Street service.
Health professionals available at the Harrison Wing
- clinical nurse specialists
- dieticians
- health advisors/counsellors
- midwives
- physiotherapists
- patient representative
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HIV specialist community nursing team
Our HIV specialist community nursing service supports patients living with HIV inthe community. We can see you either at your home, local hospitals (St Thomas' Hospital, King's College Hospital or University Hospital Lewisham) or any other location that is appropriate for you.
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Emotional and psychological support services
We offer a range of psychological support services and work closely with community services and voluntary organisations to provide holistic care and patient support.
These include:
- short-term counselling for newly-diagnosed HIV patients and their partners
- assessment and referral to the mental health team (including psychiatry and psychology services)
- referral to community based Clinical Nurse Specialists
- referral to voluntary support organisations
- support with risk-taking behaviour including drug use and chemsex.
For further information or advice about the service, please contact the health advisor team on 020 7188 3517/7707 or email gst-tr.sexualhealthcounselling@nhs.net
Download a leaflet about the specialist sexual health counselling service available at Burrell Street and Lloyd Clinics (PDF 74Kb).
Patient representative
Our patient representative is available to provide peer support to patients. She provides advice and information regarding living well with HIV, as well as information regarding available welfare benefits and financial assistance.
Tel: 020 7188 2617
Email: juliet.bosa@gstt.nhs.uk
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Information for GPs and other healthcare professionals
Contact us
We are very happy to be contacted by GPs and other health care professionals for information about the following:
- clinical queries
- queries about HIV drugs and interactions
- information or queries about testing your patients or giving positive HIV results to your patients.
To contact us please email: gst-tr.harrisonwing@nhs.net. You can expect a response within two working days.
You can also telephone 0207 188 2662/3, and our medical secretaries will organise for someone to contact you within 24 hours.
If you are calling regarding an urgent query, there is a consultant available 24 hours a day, who can be contacted via the hospital switchboard.
Referrals to our service
Patients can self refer to our service, or can be referred by a GP or other health professional using the email/telephone number above.
If you have referred a new patient to our service, they will be offered an appointment with our nursing team within 2-4 days. If a patient is unwell, we would aim for them to be reviewed on the same day by our medical team.
Feedback to GPs
We encourage patients to give permission for us to communicate with their GPs.
If we see a patient that you have newly referred to us, we will let you know when your patient is booked to see us and you should receive a letter after they have had their appointment. Please feel free to contact us for any further information.
For patients whom we review in our routine outpatient clinics, we aim to write to GPs on at least an annual basis, or if any changes are made to an individual's care plan or medications.