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| I've seen colleagues wear gloves to handle notes of patients with HIV. Why? | I've seen colleagues wear gloves to handle notes of patients with HIV. Why? |
| (13 days later) | |
| You can live a normal, healthy life. That is what we tell people before and after testing for HIV – a single daily tablet can be all you need to keep it under control. Yet this infection remains specialised, censored and disapproved of in many circles. It is little different to similarly transmissible viral infections, and with often better treatment outcomes compared with several cancers and even diabetes. | You can live a normal, healthy life. That is what we tell people before and after testing for HIV – a single daily tablet can be all you need to keep it under control. Yet this infection remains specialised, censored and disapproved of in many circles. It is little different to similarly transmissible viral infections, and with often better treatment outcomes compared with several cancers and even diabetes. |
| The life expectancy of someone on treatment is, in most cases, the same as someone living without HIV. Given the improvement in modern treatment, why is HIV still surrounded by so much stigma, even from within the healthcare profession? | The life expectancy of someone on treatment is, in most cases, the same as someone living without HIV. Given the improvement in modern treatment, why is HIV still surrounded by so much stigma, even from within the healthcare profession? |
| I have worked in some of the top hospitals in the UK. Patients expect that all healthcare workers should know how to deal with HIV and should be unprejudiced in their care. | I have worked in some of the top hospitals in the UK. Patients expect that all healthcare workers should know how to deal with HIV and should be unprejudiced in their care. |
| A short time ago, I was asked by a medical consultant if they needed to get a test after touching an HIV positive patient. I have seen nursing staff put two pairs of gloves on when dealing with patients. I have even witnessed administrative staff put on gloves just to handle the paper notes of those with HIV. Why do people continue to think and behave in this way? | A short time ago, I was asked by a medical consultant if they needed to get a test after touching an HIV positive patient. I have seen nursing staff put two pairs of gloves on when dealing with patients. I have even witnessed administrative staff put on gloves just to handle the paper notes of those with HIV. Why do people continue to think and behave in this way? |
| HIV does not discriminate. Recently, a 70-year-old white woman who had seen her GP nine times in the last four years was diagnosed as HIV positive. The test was done as a last resort when all other options had been exhausted, even though several of her symptoms could have been related to HIV. | HIV does not discriminate. Recently, a 70-year-old white woman who had seen her GP nine times in the last four years was diagnosed as HIV positive. The test was done as a last resort when all other options had been exhausted, even though several of her symptoms could have been related to HIV. |
| Up to 70% of patients will have seen their GP in the three to five years prior to a HIV diagnosis – a bit tired and you’ll have your thyroid or sugar levels checked, your glands are swollen and you’ll have a check for glandular fever or lymphoma. HIV can give similar symptoms, but healthcare professionals often do not test for it and patients do not ask for it. They push for thyroid, hepatitis and diabetes checks. | Up to 70% of patients will have seen their GP in the three to five years prior to a HIV diagnosis – a bit tired and you’ll have your thyroid or sugar levels checked, your glands are swollen and you’ll have a check for glandular fever or lymphoma. HIV can give similar symptoms, but healthcare professionals often do not test for it and patients do not ask for it. They push for thyroid, hepatitis and diabetes checks. |
| Do we, as doctors, fear the conversation? Do we believe our patients will think we are judging them if we suggest the test? Do patients think their doctor will make assumptions about them if they have this conversation? | Do we, as doctors, fear the conversation? Do we believe our patients will think we are judging them if we suggest the test? Do patients think their doctor will make assumptions about them if they have this conversation? |
| While HIV is decreasing in men who have sex with men (largely thanks to pre-exposure prophylaxis), the decline is not as marked in the heterosexual population, especially in communities where HIV is more stigmatised. Sexual health clinics are excellent at offering HIV tests, yet there is little elsewhere in our healthcare system where the vast majority of patients are more likely to access. | While HIV is decreasing in men who have sex with men (largely thanks to pre-exposure prophylaxis), the decline is not as marked in the heterosexual population, especially in communities where HIV is more stigmatised. Sexual health clinics are excellent at offering HIV tests, yet there is little elsewhere in our healthcare system where the vast majority of patients are more likely to access. |
| The time between infection and diagnosis in these patients can often be several years, rather than months, thereby increasing the risk of medical problems in the interim, which can expose others to infection and possibly end in fatality. | The time between infection and diagnosis in these patients can often be several years, rather than months, thereby increasing the risk of medical problems in the interim, which can expose others to infection and possibly end in fatality. |
| We should be striving to make HIV testing ordinary and routine. What should a society do with something that is marginalised, persecuted and oppressed? Ignoring it is no way forward. Stand up and fight for change. Test and be tested. | We should be striving to make HIV testing ordinary and routine. What should a society do with something that is marginalised, persecuted and oppressed? Ignoring it is no way forward. Stand up and fight for change. Test and be tested. |
| Dr James Stevenson (@DoctorJamesGP) is HIV clinical lead of Newham clinical commissioning group in London | Dr James Stevenson (@DoctorJamesGP) is HIV clinical lead of Newham clinical commissioning group in London |
| If you would like to write a blogpost for Views from the NHS frontline, read our guidelines and get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com. | If you would like to write a blogpost for Views from the NHS frontline, read our guidelines and get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com. |
| Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views. | Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views. |
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