Coronavirus: Harrison Wing update
In response to coronavirus (COVID-19) we are reducing Harrison Wing appointments, since many staff are being redeployed to other areas during the pandemic.
We understand that you may be anxious about your supply of medication. We are working hard to make sure that you do not have any interruptions in your supplies.
Some of you have already been contacted by Harrison Wing staff regarding your upcoming appointments and medication – the plan that you agreed with the doctor or nurse will not change.
If you have not already been contacted by Harrison Wing staff regarding your medication, please read the information below:
- If we think you are stable and well from an HIV perspective and it is safe to do so, we will issue you with more medication at the time of your bloods appointment. You will be able to collect your medication from the Harrison Wing Lloyds pharmacy, or it will be delivered to you if you usually get your medication by home delivery. Please do not come any earlier than the date of your appointment to collect medication as it will not be available. Please do not call the Pharmacy unless you have a clinical query or you will not have enough medication to last you until the date of your appointment. You will not have blood tests this time, your upcoming appointments will be cancelled and you will be rebooked for 6 months.
- If we think you still need to attend the Harrison Wing for regular monitoring during this time, we will be in contact with you to advise you on what you need to do.
If you think you should attend the Harrison Wing because you are unwell, please call us first on 020 7188 2815. Please bear with us. We are very busy at the moment but will attend to your query as soon as possible.
For non-urgent medical enquiries email the nurses on harrisonwing.nurse@gstt.nhs.uk with your patient number (if you know it), date of birth, full name and your reason for contacting us.
If possible, please do not contact the Harrison Wing unless your query is urgent.
Please note our new opening hours until further notice:
Monday to Friday: 9am-4pm.
HIV and coronavirus
We realise that this is an anxious time for many. Everyone should follow the advice on the NHS 111 website.
For more information about HIV and 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.