Healthtalk have developed a new, free online resource regarding feeding a baby while living with HIV. The resource looks at the factors influencing how parents living with HIV feed their babies in the UK. The resource was developed using data from the HIV & infant feeding study.
HIV is a protected characteristic under the 2010 Equality Act and it is illegal to treat someone less favourably because of it. In Scotland we also have The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 which in turn informs The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities.
In short this means that irrespective of someone’s HIV status they are entitled to fair and respectful treatment when accessing NHS services.
The most important points for people living with HIV are:
If you feel that any of these are being compromised due to stigma or discrimination, then ask to see someone else, or you can exercise your right to Feedback or Complain
We ask that you:
NHSGGC encourages feedback – both positive and negative- about the treatment and care you have received, to help us improve service delivery.
If you wish to feedback your experience of using NHS Services, whether at the Brownlee or in another part of the NHS, or make a complaint, all departments have information available on how to do that.
Brownlee has a suggestions box in the reception area that patients can use to feedback on experiences both good and bad. NHS GGC also has an official Feedback and Complaints system.
If you require inpatient treatment for your HIV you will be admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where you will be looked after by the Brownlee medical team.
Patients are supported with their physical and mental health in a variety of ways via the multidisciplinary team.
In addition there are a range of services available to help manage emotional and practical issues.
For information on Peer Support, Seminars and Events click here.
Terrence Higgins Trust has a range of support services that runs from their city centre offices.
Waverley Care similarly offers support and advice on a range of issues and their African Health Project is specifically designed to meet the needs of African people living with HIV.
Many patients are infected with both HIV and Hepatitis C, and can access the support services available from Waverley Care.
Hwupenyu Health and Wellbeing is a community based project that provides a range of support services including a food bank and complementary therapies to people living with HIV and other related health conditions.
Terrance Higigns Trust and HIV Prevention England have created a collection of videos, featuring people living with HIV talking about how treatment has impacted their lives; these can be viewed at YouTube/THT.
As well as being NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s centre for HIV care and treatment, the Brownlee Clinic provides the following services:
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV attacks the body’s immune system and weakens it over time until it cannot fight off infections and cancers that a healthy person can. There is no cure for HIV, but very effective treatment means HIV can now be classed as a long-term manageable condition. With this effective treatment people with HIV are living, long and healthy lives. But as with any long-term condition, being diagnosed with HIV can be a life-changing experience that can have a whole range of emotional and practical implications.
However, there are a range of services that offer support and guidance on all aspects your life with HIV.
If you are looking for more information then we recommend reading the basics about HIV via NAM and checking out their range of excellent leaflets.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the name used to describe a combination of potentially life-threatening infections and cancers, which can develop when someone’s immune system has been damaged by untreated HIV. You cannot catch AIDS and there is no AIDS test. HIV causes AIDS and it is HIV that can be passed on. Just because someone has been diagnosed with an AIDS-related illness, does not mean they will die. Thanks to effective HIV treatment, many people who develop AIDS are now very well and can look forward to a long and healthy life.
HIV is a blood borne virus that is present in the body fluids and tissues of a person living with HIV. Only blood, genital fluids (i.e. semen and vaginal fluids) and breast milk from an HIV infected person can transmit HIV.
The main ways HIV can be passed on to someone else are during unprotected sex (vaginal or anal), by sharing any equipment used to inject drugs, and from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding. But there are very effective ways of preventing HIV infection in all of these situations.
HIV cannot be transmitted through normal social contact. There is no risk to your friends and family from kissing, hugging or shaking hands – or any other social contact. You cannot get HIV by being in the same place as someone with HIV, or by sharing household items such as crockery, cutlery, or bed linen. HIV is not passed on by sneezing or coughing or sharing food and drink.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a course of anti-HIV drugs which would be taken by people to lower the risk of becoming infected with HIV. Research suggests that PrEP is as effective as condoms at preventing HIV.
PrEP does not protect against any STIs other than HIV and it only protects the person taking PrEP.
For more information on PrEP and how you can access it, see the PrEP FAQ on the Sandyford Initiative website.
Below are a selection of useful links to websites and organisations that you may find helpful or interesting. Most are independent organisations that are not part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. NHSGGC is not responsible for the content or information contained on these websites.
On this page we have linked to the main website of these organisations, some of which are Scotland or UK wide. Other sections of the Brownlee HIV website have links to local services that some of these organisations provide in NHS GGC. You can find a lot of these services on the patient support page.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and our Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) have been conducting periodic Health and Wellbeing Surveys since 1999. Over the years, the survey has grown significantly in both size and content. The 2022/23 survey had a sample size of just over 10,000 and, for the first time, covered all geographic areas within NHSGGC.
The survey offers a comprehensive overview of health and wellbeing, encompassing aspects such as perceived health and illness, health behaviours, social capital, social health, and financial wellbeing. With its extensive sample size and broad geographic coverage, the survey enables detailed analysis by age, gender, and deprivation category across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Additionally, it allows for specific insights within Health and Social Care Partnerships/Localities and various neighbourhoods within Glasgow City, based on SG intermediate zones.
The survey is extensively used by NHSGGC to assess health needs and address inequalities across various topics, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, long-term conditions or illnesses, social connectedness, reciprocity/trust, volunteering, caring responsibilities, and difficulty finding unexpected sums. Questions are designed and adapted to be comparable with those of other national surveys such as the Census and Scottish Health Survey but also to reflect changing policy priorities and social context so that, for example the 2022/23 survey included questions relating to the impact of COVID.
The survey includes a set of indicators to track trends in key areas such as perceptions of general health, physical and mental wellbeing, overall quality of life, diet, smoking, social capital, economic activity and perceptions of household income. In this way we aim to monitor the wellbeing of our population over time, while also measuring new and changing public health themes and targets. The survey is designed to be flexible, ensuring it aligns with current policies and emerging issues.
As previous NHSGGC Health and Wellbeing surveys have not had a sufficient sample size for a detailed analysis of the experiences of minority ethnic people, the first Minority Ethnic Health and Wellbeing Survey was conducted in 2016 within Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. The second Minority Ethnic Health and Wellbeing Survey was conducted across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2024. This followed the same format as that of the Adult survey of 2022/23. It is hoped that future Minority Ethnic surveys will be merged as part of the Adult survey process.
The overall objectives of the Health and Wellbeing survey are:
Access to the data is available to researchers, public health professionals, and partner organisations with a legitimate interest in improving population health. All requests are subject to review and must comply with data protection legislation.
Respondents to the 2017/18 and 2022/23 were asked if they agreed to having their anonymous surveys linked to their CHI number. Of the most recent 2022/23 Adult Health and Wellbeing sample, more than 80% agreed to have their surveys linked. This allows for linkage and exploration to other clinical records. Requests for linked datasets requires a Safe Haven pathway.
To request access to the survey or linked dataset, applicants must in the first instance email the Health and Wellbeing Survey Team at the email address below. Following and initial discussion you will be asked to:
If you would like more information about the NHSGGC Health and Wellbeing survey or have an initial discussion about accessing the data please email ggc.contact.research@nhs.scot
Below are links to some of the outputs from the latest and previous surveys, published by NHSGGC and external partners, including:
Stòr is NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s digital repository for Public Health. You can access the Health and Wellbeing Survey reports for 2014/15 and 2017/18 as well as reports produced by our partners using the Health and Wellbeing data.
The clinical team will do their best to answer the questions you might have about living with HIV. But, for some people getting advice and information from someone that has gone through a similar experience, can be incredibly useful and reassuring. Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers compiled by patients at the Brownlee Centre covering some of the main questions they themselves had when first diagnosed.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV attacks the body’s immune system and weakens it over time until it cannot fight off infections and cancers that a healthy person can. There is no cure for HIV, but very effective treatment means many people now consider HIV as a long-term manageable condition. With this effective treatment people with HIV are living, long and healthy lives. HIV causes AIDS and it is HIV that can be passed on. Just because someone has been diagnosed with an AIDS-related illness, does not mean they will die. Thanks to effective HIV treatment, many people who develop AIDS are now very well and can look forward to a long and healthy life.
More detailed information can be found at the Aidsmap website.
Nowadays people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives and it is considered by many to be a long-term condition. But as with any long-term condition, being diagnosed with HIV can be a life-changing experience that will have a whole range of emotional and practical implications. You can get information on a whole range of subjects by speaking to the staff or meeting with a Peer Volunteer.
Nowadays the majority of people in the UK diagnosed with HIV who follow the advice of their specialist care team are physically healthy and will not die due to their HIV infection. More detailed information can be found at the NAM and Aidsmap website.
This depends on how long you have had HIV before being diagnosed and what strain of the virus you have and any other illnesses or conditions you might have. It is recommended that everyone diagnosed with HIV starts treatment right away but this will be discussed with your doctor. Improvements in medications are happening all the time, so that people take fewer tablets less often – some people take only one pill once per day. Medications also have less severe side effects with a lot of people not having any long-term side effects at all. But everyone is different. More detailed information can be found at the NAM and Aidsmap website.
People sometimes worry about infecting others, but you cannot ‘give’ anyone HIV through normal social contact (shaking hands, hugging, kissing), by sharing food or cutlery, or using the same toilet. Even if you cut yourself HIV cannot cross healthy unbroken skin and washing with normal soap and water kills the virus. HIV is most commonly transmitted through having sex without a condom (anal or vaginal) or sharing injecting equipment. More detailed information can be found at the NAM and Aidsmap website.
When first told they have HIV, many people feel that their sex lives are over or at least things will be very difficult, but this is not true. Most people living with HIV have happy, healthy and fulfilling sex lives. But it does mean there are some things you need to consider when deciding how and when you want to have sex.
This section contains information on some of the things you may need to think about when you feel ready to have sex again. If you wish to discuss any of these issues you can ask to see one of the Sexual Health Advisers at the Brownlee.
The answer to this varies from person to person and depends on your situation. What you do have to remember is that once you tell someone you cannot take it back. This is why it is important to think about it carefully and it can be helpful talking this through in confidence with a Peer Volunteer.
It is important that current or previous sexual partners are tested as this is the only way to find out if someone has HIV and it could prevent them from becoming seriously ill. Notifying them can be done anonymously on your behalf and a member of staff will speak to you about this. More detailed information can be found at the NAM and Aidsmap website.
Every patient with HIV has a named consultant and a specialist nurse allocated to them. At clinic visits you won’t always see your consultant and it might be one of the department’s speciality doctors, but your overall care is always monitored and reviewed by your consultant. At clinic you can also access: sexual health advisors, counsellors, pharmacist, occupational therapist and a dietician. These staff are key members of our Multidisciplinary Team.
If you don’t understand something then the best thing to do is to ask the member of staff to explain it. When it comes to your treatment and care there is no such thing as a stupid question. CD4 and Viral are the blood tests commonly carried out as they give important information about the effects HIV is having on your body. A CD4 cell count tells you about the strength of the immune system, which protects us against infections and illness. Viral load measures how much HIV there is in a drop of blood. For more information click here
All patient records are now held electronically; however the notes related to your HIV treatment and care are maintained with restricted and secure access. Only healthcare professionals looking after you will have access to the letters and blood tests that are relevant to providing you with optimal care. All NHS staff irrespective of their speciality or department are bound by and work under strict policy and rules on patient confidentiality. If you want more information on this then speak to a member of staff, view the Health Board’s information on Data Protection and Privacy or see the guides Your Voice, Your Choice, Your Rights developed by HIV Scotland in conjunction with the National AIDS Trust (NAT).
There is no right answer to this question that will make you feel instantly better. Although people living with HIV share many of the same experiences and fears each person deals with it uniquely. Coming to terms with it also means different things to different people, but for many this is about acceptance and moving forwards to deal with what living with HIV means for them. Talking to someone can help and this could be someone close to you, a trained counsellor or a Peer Volunteer who understand what it’s like. Find out about Peer Support and Peer Volunteers.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde consider that any stigmatisation or discrimination of people living with HIV is unacceptable.
Poor knowledge and misconceptions about how the virus is transmitted means that HIV can evoke fears, prejudices and negative attitudes, and unfortunately many people living with HIV still experience stigma and discrimination within healthcare settings in NHSGGC.
Here you will find information on the work we are doing to tackle and reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination within NHSGGC.
We have been working closely with people living with HIV to create new resources and a staff campaign. This is the story of how through collaborative working we hope to put and end to stigma within our services.
Stigma is usually based on fear, ignorance and prejudice. Misconceptions and a lack of knowledge about HIV and how it is transmitted contribute to stigma.
While stigma is found in a person’s attitude or beliefs, discrimination is about their behaviour. Discrimination means treating one person differently from another based on their characteristics. Examples HIV patients report include:
Have you experienced or seen HIV stigma or discrimination taking place within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) health services? If you have we want to hear about your experience. This could be any service from primary care to hospital appointments, especially if it is not related to HIV care. It could have happened any time in the last 3 years.
You may have had direct experience or wish to let us know on behalf of someone else; you may have experienced staff treating a patient living with HIV in a discriminatory manner or, as a member of staff you feel that a procedure you have been told to follow causes stigma for those living with HIV.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember all the details just tell us as much as you can. Collecting these experiences helps us to work together to ensure people living with HIV are treated with the dignity, compassion and respect that all patients in NHSGGC can expect.
You can complete the form anonymously. However, if you would like the HIV Peer Support Manager to discuss the incident further including how to make a formal complaint please make sure you enter your contact details.
You can give feedback on your experience of care or treatment within the NHS through Care Opinion.
