Birmingham Heartlands HIV Service’s Lead HIV Consultant appeared on BBC local radio this evening to talk about HIV, stigma and testing – all in light of the news that Charlie Sheen has announced he is HIV positive. HIV today is a manageable condition – modern medicine means you can live a full, long life. In order
Posts By / Heartlands HIV
NICE announce criteria for access to Daklinza, Harvoni, Viekirax and Exviera
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) have announced which of the new treatments will be made available by the NHS to people living with hepatitis C. The NICE decisions will widen access to a range of new all-oral, direct acting antiviral treatments beyond those patients with decompensated cirrhosis who were treated from 2014 under
New Booklet: Pocket-Size ART Guide
The people at HIV i-Base, have just published an excellent pocket version of their ‘Introduction to ART’ leaflet. You can download it here. The Pocket ART guide is an informative but easy-to-read way to access the most accurate information about antiretroviral treatment. Lenny, an HIV positive person involved with the booklet, says in its pages:“I know I was
New Booklet: Introduction to ARTs
Courtesy of our colleagues at HIV i-Base, we’ve just added a new booklet to our ‘Starting Treatment’ section – that means there are now eight great publications to read in that section, which taken together offer a really comprehensive account of what to expect from HIV medication. Introduction to ARTs is a booklet for anyone
Colleague Honoured by Queen
The investiture of Professor Clive Loveday, who has worked alongside clinicians here at Birmingham Heartlands HIV Service, as an ‘Officer to the Order of St John of Jerusalem’ for services to International Charities and HIV/AIDS takes place in the City of London on 20th October 2015 at The St Johns Church. Professor Loveday worked as a
HIVTestUK on TV
Our collaboration with the Saving Lives charity and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Pathology Laboratories launched yesterday, and has already received coverage in the media, on BBC Midlands Today and on ITV Central News. You can read the ITV piece about our online postal HIV testing portal here, and watch the BBC video below.
HIVTestUK pilot project launches in Birmingham
July 23rd 2015, sees two NHS organisations and a national charity launch a trail-blazing online postal HIV test request service in a unique collaboration. The HIV awareness-raising charity Saving Lives, Birmingham Heartlands HIV Service and the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Pathology laboratories, have come together to launch HIVTestUK. This brand new service offers
New British guidelines recommend treatment for everyone with HIV
Following the results of the START trial, new BHIVA treatment guidelines have been released: The new draft guidelines, published for consultation this week, say that anyone living with HIV who understands the commitment of treatment and is ready to start should receive treatment. The change – from a recommendation to start treatment before the CD4
NHS England agrees funding for life-saving hepatitis C drug
NHS England has approved an £18.7 million investment in a new drug for the treatment of hepatitis C. Around 500 patients with acute liver failure, and/or awaiting liver transplantation, are expected to benefit from the decision to fund Sofosbuvir. The hepatitis C virus causes inflammation of the liver, affecting its ability to function. Whilst many
UK Stigma Index 2015
The Birmingham Heartlands HIV Service would like to extend its thanks to all patient who took part in the UK Stigma index 2015. The STIGMAINDEXUK – 2015 has been closed for several weeks and the final numbers have been counted. Sincerest apologies for any delay but we can now confirm that we have over 1600