On July 7, Terrence Higgins Trust and NAM are launching a new pan-London health support service for people living with HIV.  The ‘HIV Health Support Service’ offers one to one or group meetings with a Health Trainer where people can learn more about HIV, treatments and managing their own condition.

The new service complements existing services and is particularly useful for people who have been newly diagnosed with HIV, who are thinking of starting or changing their treatment or who are experiencing side effects.   It has already been successfully piloted in South London.

Health Trainers can tailor their service to the individual seeing them in their home, at their clinic or another venue, or speaking to them over the phone.  A range of issues can be discussed from HIV treatment and adherance to safer sex and disclosing HIV status to family and friends.

Adam Wilkinson, London Operations Manager at Terrence Higgins Trust said “In the pilot we found that many people who didn’t even think they needed this service found it useful.  It’s about making people experts in their own condition, so they can manage it better day to day.  Our service really fits around the individual so people find it relevant, convenient and flexible.”

People can arrange to see a Health Trainer by calling THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200 or can be referred on by their HIV clinic.  There will be eight Health Trainers working across the London area and it’s expected that most people who are referred will benefit from at least two sessions.

The HIV Health Support Service is funded by the Pan London HIV Prevention Programme and the South London HIV Partnership.  Further information on the service is available from THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200.

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Notes to editors

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services across England, Wales and Scotland.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual ill health.

• NAM is an award-winning charity based in Oval, South London.  NAM works to provide independent, accurate, accessible and comprehensive information on all aspects of HIV to people living with HIV and to the professionals who treat, support and care for them.