The only way to know if you have HIV is to have a test. Everyone in Scotland, including refugees and asylum seekers, can access free and confidential HIV testing. HIV treatment and care is available from the National Health Service.
An HIV test can only tell you about your HIV status. It cannot tell you if your current of previous partners are infected. Other people can only find out if they go for a test themselves.
Who should test for HIV?
You can’t tell by looking at someone if they have HIV so the only way to know is by having a test. You should have a test for HIV, if you have:
had unprotected sex with a man or a woman
ever injected drugs, even if it was a long time ago
had unsterile medical treatment abroad, or treatment in countries where infection control procedures are sub-standard
had tattoos or body piercing in circumstances where infection control procedures are suboptimal
were born or who have lived in a country that has a high prevalence of HIV
Where can I get an HIV test?
Testing is free and confidential in all NHS services. There are a range of places to get a test including:
After someone is infected with HIV, it can take some time for their body to develop antibodies to the virus. It is these antibodies that a test looks for. This is known as the ‘window period’. This means that if you were infected shortly before you have a test, it might not show up. Most of the HIV tests used are very sensitive and will detect HIV one month after someone is exposed, so a negative test is highly likely to be accurate. However, it is recommended that an additional HIV test is offered at 12 weeks to everyone who tests to make sure that they were not in the window period and are not infected.
If you are asked to have a follow-up test, you should take the following precautions while waiting for your second result:
The Brownlee Centre is based at the Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow. The Brownlee Clinic looks after approximately 2000 people living with HIV infection, as well as many people with other medical conditions. The Kantilal Sleep Investigation Unit is also based at the Brownlee Centre. All adult outpatient HIV care in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is based here and is free of charge. Paediatric HIV services are delivered at the Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow.
To change an appointment, to cancel an appointment or to leave a routine message with any member of staff please call the Brownlee Clinic Reception on 0141 211 1074 or 0141 232 2175.
If you feel unwellor are in need of urgent medical help: please contact your GP or NHS 24 (PHONE 111). If necessary, they will contact staff at the Brownlee Centre for specialised medical advice.
Nearest to the Brownlee Centre, the Gartnavel General Hospital sanctuary is situated just inside the main entrance of the hospital (ground floor), on the right-hand side before the Deco Coffee Shop.
The chaplain’s office is in the corner of the Gartnavel General Hospital sanctuary.
Clinical nurse specialists can be found across a range of different medical specialties and long term conditions e.g. Coronary Heart Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes. They are nurses who are trained and focus on a particular disease and are qualified to provide clinical input to patient care in place of a doctor. Every patient attending the Brownlee Centre is allocated a CNS and their role is to link that person to the department. The CNS can be contacted for any enquiry that is related to the management of HIV.
Nurse led clinics
Patients attend nurse-led clinics when they are considered to be stable and they have a less clinical and more holistic approach that focuses on lifestyle choices and health improvement. These include alcohol intake, diet, exercise, smoking, recreational drug use, sexual health and social circumstances.
At the nurse led clinic you will be reviewed by one of the nurse specialist team, not necessarily your allocated nurse.
Our goal is that all patients can develop a relationship with the care team that is built on trust and clear communication. If you have an issue related to your HIV treatment and care, we encourage you to get in touch as early as possible – don’t wait until you have reached crisis point!
First Visit
At your first visit to the Brownlee, you will be seen by the out-patient nursing staff who will carry out initial blood tests and a few other checks. You’ll meet your specialist nurse and sexual health advisor, and you will be given written information about HIV and the support services available.
You will then be given an appointment to be seen at the consultant clinic to review your blood tests.
Consultant Physician in HIV Medicine
What is HIV medicine?
The aim is to control and suppress the HIV virus completely to levels where it is undetectable in the blood – an undetectable viral load. This is done by making sure each patient has the correct course of antiretroviral medication. You will need to take this medication for the rest of your life, so decisions are based on a number of things, including evidence that will affect the future e.g. will a person’s work affect how and when they can take their medication?
What is the role of an HIV consultant?
The consultant leads a patients care and has overall responsibility for making sure a long term plan is in place. They check and double check all the information relevant to your care through review, reflection and ensuring safe systems are in place. Your named consultant will be either an infectious disease or genitourinary medicine consultant, who specialises in HIV medicine.
What other doctors might a patient see?
You won’t always see your named consultant when you attend and this might be because of rotas, other clinical commitments and to allow trainees to gain experience. You might see registrars who are fully qualified doctors that are training to become HIV specialists.
However, all the decisions about your care ultimately lie with your named consultant.
What is the most important message you have for patients?
Engage with the whole service – all of your appointments are important and enable us to work with you to provide the best possible care. If you are unable to attend, please get in touch with us. Don’t wait until crisis point or until the last tablet. Provide feedback and communicate with us.
Counselling
The counselling team at the Brownlee provides help to people who are infected or affected by HIV and/or Hepatitis C. We offer a range of psychological interventions that aim to maintain positive emotional health and wellbeing.
The counsellors offer a confidential, safe and non-judgemental space where clients can talk through their issues and concerns. Clients can refer themselves or ask any healthcare professional to refer them.
Some of the services the counselling team provide are:
Urgent psychological support and advice
One-One counselling: face to face, by video or by telephone
Group counselling
Patient support groups
Person centred counselling
Integrative therapies
Trauma counselling
Addiction therapies
Dietitian
Dietitians are health professionals who can assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems.
The Dietitian service at Brownlee can help people with:
Advice on a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet
Assist in maintenance of healthy weight and muscle stores
Optimise nutritional status
Encourage a positive approach to eating
If you have concerns about any aspect of your nutrition you should discuss this with a member of the Brownlee team who can then make a referral on your behalf.
Free Condoms Service
Free Condoms Service
Free Condoms are provided to anyone who lives, works or studies in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
The service has been designed to be user friendly for both the service user and condom distribution outlets. It is discreet and simple with no requirement to register or answer questions. You can get your free condoms and lubricant from one of the many participating outlets. Go to the Free Condoms Website for more information.
HIV and Pregnancy
If you or your partner are living with HIV and thinking about having a baby we would encourage you to discuss this with your doctor or Specialist nurse beforehand or let them know as soon as you know you are pregnant.
We can give advice on antiretroviral medication in pregnancy, how to become pregnant safely, how to ensure you remain well during pregnancy and how we will work together to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.
During pregnancy, the HIV team work closely with the Blossom team based in Princess Royal Maternity and we recommend women living with HIV attend PRMH for antenatal care. We provide a joint clinic with the HIV doctor and nurse, obstetric doctor, midwife and a neonatal doctor (who will look after the baby at birth) and can provide all your care in one place during pregnancy and in the weeks after baby is born.
There is good evidence that a range of psychological interventions can make a considerable difference to the long-term health and well-being of someone living with HIV, including how well they manage their condition and adhere to treatment.
We offer each patient an appointment with a member of the counselling team for a WELL-BEING assessment which is an opportunity to find out if there are emotional and psychological issues that may require support and treatment. It is also an opportunity to identify social, financial or indeed any other problems that you may need help with.
Treatment may be in the form of ongoing counselling, anxiety and stress management, attendance at a support group, or mental health care and treatment.
Occupational Therapist
The Occupational Therapy (OT) service provides specialist assessment and treatment to help individuals develop, regain or maintain the skills necessary to participate in all areas of their lives. Occupational Therapy gives people the ‘skills for the job of living meaningful and satisfying lives’.
At the Brownlee, the OT service receives a wide range of referrals, commonly related to memory, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep problems and social isolation. The OT service can be accessed through any staff member and individuals can self refer.
OT service may include:
Assessment and management of fatigue
Anxiety Management training
Advice and support to access work, leisure and community facilities
Liaison with Community Occupational Therapist for environmental adaptations
Advice and support for carers and families
Liaison and referral to community services and projects ie Impact arts, flourish house, access to work, Waverly Care,
Assessment of activities of daily living eg meal preparation, self care, shopping
Provision of equipment to improve functional status, and increase independence.
During your appointment with the Occupational Therapy service you will be given the opportunity to discuss any issues you are experiencing and work collaboratively with the OT to develop goals and strategies. The majority of appointments will be one to one with the Occupational Therapist or Assistant Health Practitioner, however there are sometimes opportunities for group work.
Outpatient Nurse
As some of the first friendly faces you will meet at your visits here at the Brownlee, the Outpatient Nursing Team are committed to providing care and support to patients and their families and friends. The Outpatient Nursing Team are the central “link” in the multi-disciplinary team. Managing the lists of separate clinics, we carry out a very varied role, helping co-ordinate a patients journey as well as
Referring to most appropriate part of the service
Running a nurse led phlebotomy (blood testing) service
Co-ordinating nursing tasks such as vaccines, return appointments, diagnostic monitoring such as weight, BP and urinalysis. Routine sexual health screens are also carried out by the OPD nursing team.
Supporting and caring for patients
Peer Support
“I have hope for the first time (since diagnosis). It feels less traumatic. They really understood me.”
Brownlee Patient
Many people have questions surrounding their diagnosis, treatment or other issues related to living with HIV. Unless they know someone else living with HIV they often struggle to speak to someone who really understands things from their perspective.
The Peer Support Project provides a confidential environment for one HIV positive individual to meet with another more experienced HIV patient, who will listen to your concerns and fears and share what it’s like living positively.
The service is open to all current HIV positive patients in NHSGGC, regardless of how long they have been diagnosed, and who could benefit from speaking to another person living with HIV. This could be related to issues such as; shock of diagnosis, stigma, relationships, disclosure, work, social isolation, beginning treatment and other constraints or questions a person might have related to living with HIV.
“I was cynical…I did not expect the impact meeting the peer has had. It has changed my outlook totally.”
The pharmacy team dispense medications and make sure they are safe and effective. They also ensure that your HIV medication is compatible with other medicines you might take or any other health conditions you may have.
Drug interactions are very common with antivirals and it is important for us to check in advance that medication is compatible to reduce the risk of treatment failures or drug toxicities. Patients and other medical professionals (eg GPs) are encouraged to check with the specialist pharmacy team before starting any new medicine including those purchased at the supermarket or community pharmacy or even any herbal products.
When a new antiviral is supplied, both at the outset of treatment or if changes to your medicines are required, a member of the team will discuss this with you. The aim of this is to provide you with practical information relating to how to get the best results from your medicines but also to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your new medicines or the service we provide.
We also offer a medication delivery service, which allows antivirals to be delivered to your home. It is only available to those patients who are stable on their antivirals, after discussion with their consultant. The company is called Lloyds Homecare – Tel: 0345 263 6135
If you have any questions regarding your medicines, your supply or taking other medicines, please don’t hesitate to call us on 0141 211 3383. Our opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm, and Thursday from 9.00am to 4.30pm.
Sexual Health Advisors
Attending the Brownlee Centre for HIV care there will be many opportunities to talk about your health and HIV treatment. However, you may wish to discuss other issues such as sex, relationships, condoms, or telling a partner about your diagnosis, but may not find there is the time or the opportunity to do so with your doctor.
Here are some of the areas that we can help with:
Safer sex and condoms
Negotiating safer sex with sexual partners
Telling someone (perhaps a sexual partner) you are HIV positive
Concerns about your sexual health and sexually transmitted infections
Lifestyle issues and living with HIV
Worries or concerns about your care and treatments
Using condoms
Using condoms when having penetrative sex (anal or vaginal) is the best way to significantly reduce the risks of HIV transmission. We now have lots of information available that condoms, used correctly and consistently, can prevent passing on HIV and just as importantly other sexually transmitted infections.
Using a water-based or silicon-based lube makes anal sex safe for both the insertive (top) and the receptive (bottom) partner. Using lubricant is not recommended for vaginal sex.
You can pick up a wide variety of condoms and lube completely free from a range of services and pharmacies. For more information see the Free Condoms Glasgow website.
Lower risk sex
There are some sexual activities that carry little or no risks of passing on HIV. For example oral sex (mouth to genital contact) is very low risk in terms of HIV transmission, as long as the mouth is healthy and no other infections are present. Activities such as kissing, hugging, touching or stroking, mutual masturbation, and rimming (tongue to anus contact) carry no risk of HIV transmission.
The risk of other sexually transmitted infections needs to be considered, particularly through oral sex.
Undetectable viral load
The information you get from your test results and discussions with your doctor about your viral load can help inform your choices around having sex. If your viral load has been undetectable for several months and you continue to take your anti-HIV drugs correctly without problems, the risks of HIV transmission during unprotected penetrative sex (anal or vaginal) is much reduced.
However not everyone is in agreement about how much the risk is reduced. Risks of other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy issues also need to be considered when having unprotected sex.
You should discuss your Viral Load with your doctor or Sexual Health Adviser before making any decisions. More information on this is available from the National AIDS Manual (NAM) website.
What if my partner is HIV positive too?
It may seem obvious to think that if your sexual partner is HIV positive then there is no need to consider how you have sex together. This is not quite true. Apart from the risks of other sexually transmitted infections, the concern is the possibility of infection with more than one strain of HIV – or superinfection.
This could mean for example it is less likely to achieve undetectable viral load with anti-HIV drugs but the implications of this for your future health are not clear and not everyone is in agreement about the effects of this. Another concern is resistance to anti-HIV drugs being passed from person to person.
Re-infection or superinfection is less likely if you both have an undetectable viral load.
If this issue affects you it may be helpful to talk this through with your doctor at the Brownlee.
The following videos outline healthy lifestyle and pregnancy.
Eating Well in Pregnancy – Plus the Right Vitamins
Eating the Right Amount for You and Baby
Moving More for a Healthier Pregnancy
Drinking Enough Water When You’re Pregnant
Eating with Awareness – What is Mindful Eating?
Understanding Blood Sugar and Pregnancy Diabetes
Advice for Gestational Diabetes
Video 1: What is Gestational Diabetes?
In this video, we will answer some important questions about gestational diabetes; discussing what it is, the symptoms it can cause, how it can affect you and your baby, and the ways in which it can be treated.
Video 2: Healthy Eating, and an overview of the food groups
In this video, we will be discussing healthy eating, the Eat Well guide, an overview of the food groups and providing a detailed overview of carbohydrates.
Video 3: Portion sizes, smart swaps and meal patterns
During this video we will be discussing portion sizes, smart swaps, snack ideas, meal patterns and foods to include or avoid during pregnancy
Video 4: Breastfeeding, post-birth and lifestyle
In this video, we will be discussing breastfeeding, the benefits of breastfeeding, what will happen after your baby is born and general lifestyle changes.
Video 5: Frequently asked questions, links and contacts
In this video, we will answer some frequently asked questions, share useful links to access further information, and provide the best contact details for the NHSGGC Diabetes Dietitians.
Information in other languages
The Gestational Diabetes patient education videos were created by NHSGGC Diabetes Dietitians and have been translated into 5 languages. Each of the 5 videos will automatically play in sequence. They focus on healthy eating with Gestational Diabetes. Patients can contact or be referred to the Diabetes Dietitians for more detailed advice, if required
Videos 1-5, in Arabic
VIdeos 1-5 In Urdu
On this page, you’ll find a collection of our newsletters, including our general Mental Health Snippet and our Aye Mind newsletter which looks at digital wellbeing and online safety for children and young people.
Mental Health Snippets
Our team produces and circulates a monthly mental health snippet that provides a range of information across the life course, including resources, research articles, reports, events, and learning opportunities. If you would like to sign up for our snippet, please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
A monthly newsletter that provides information, resources, and events related to digital wellbeing and online safety for children and young people as part of our Aye Mind project. If you would like to sign up, please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
The WestMARC Wheelchair and Seating Service provides wheelchairs (manual and powered) and children’s buggies, with postural supports if required, to people requiring wheeled mobility that are living in the West of Scotland. Services provided include:
Clinical assessments
Provision of equipment (wheelchairs, buggies, seating systems) tailored to patient’s needs
Equipment repairs
Our team consists of administrative staff, technical staff, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, clinical scientists (bioengineers), nursing/medical staff and clinical psychology staff.
Making A Referral
New Service Users
Important Information
For anyone who has not used our service before, a referral form needs to be submitted by a healthcare professional or social worker registered with one of the following bodies:
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Health and Care Professions Council
General Medical Council
Scottish Social Work Council.
Wheelchair eligibility criteria
Please refer to the following information before making a referral.
Anyone who has used the wheelchair service before can self-refer if their conditions and/or requirements change by contacting the service directly for reassessment or advice.
Alternatively a healthcare professional can refer on their behalf by submitting a reporting form.
When the service receives a new referral it will be assessed by a clinician. The clinician will review the information and decide whether you require an assessment, or whether a chair can be issued from the information that has been provided. If an assessment is required, you will be added to the waiting list for a clinic appointment.
Clinic Locations
Clinics are conducted within the centre and at many satellite locations across the West of Scotland. Your appointment letter will specify the location of your appointment.
West of Scotland Mobility and Rehabilitation Centre
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital 1345 Govan Road Glasgow G51 4TF
There is also a depot where the service’s equipment store, repair facility and technicians are located.
Drop in repairs available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.45pm.
The Motherwell hub is a smaller unit and we are unable to hold all parts, so please call 0300 790 0129 in advance to confirm parts are in stock to complete the repair.
WestMARC Yoker Depot
Unit 20 Halley Street New Albion Industrial Estate Yoker Glasgow G13 4DJ
WestMARC Motherwell
Unit 33 Fern Street Motherwell ML1 2AJ
Satellite clinic locations
Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre
Ayrshire Central Hospital Kilwinning Road Irvine KA12 8SS
Community Rehabilitation Unit 1st Floor – North Entrance Mountainhall Treatment Centre Bankend Road Dumfries DG1 4AP
Repairs
If your chair is in need of repair you should contact the service immediately. You might find Standard Wheelchair Parts helpful for explaining what part of the chair requires a repair.
Equipment is repaired free of charge by the service. Our mobile engineer repair service will usually visit and repair equipment at service users home or other suitable setting.
If a complex repair is needed than it may be necessary to bring the equipment into our workshop to carry out the work.
WestMARC Yoker depot and the WestMARC Motherwell Hub are open for drop in repairs Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.45pm. Please see ‘Clinic Locations’ above for address details. Note, Motherwell hub is a smaller unit and we are unable to hold all parts, please call 0300 790 0129 in advance to confirm parts are in stock to complete the repair.
Equipment is loaned by the service and it is the service user’s responsibility to keep equipment in good condition.
Any accident or adverse incident that occurs with equipment provided from the service should be reported so that the service can record and followed up if necessary. This helps us to improve safety for all service users.
Please see video resources created by SMART Centre, Edinburgh on wheelchair demonstration/operation. Adult Manual Wheelchair video demonstrates transporting manual wheelchair into a vehicle.
The Motability Scheme helps you get mobile by exchanging your higher rate mobility allowance to lease a new affordable car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair.
Power Chair Charging
Please see following advice on charging your electric powered wheelchair:
Please see Self Management – NHSGGC toolkit developed by NRU which educates and provides references for conditions, physical activity, getting out and about, psychological wellbeing and other helpful resources.
Hundreds of people in Scotland need the help of egg or sperm donors to give them the chance to become parents and the gift of starting a family.
The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have launched the first national campaign of its kind to encourage people to become egg and sperm donors, with the four NHS tertiary Fertility Centres in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow).
Donating your eggs or sperm is something that requires careful consideration, but if it’s right for you then you have the potential to give the joy of starting a family to those people in Scotland, who need the help of donors to become parents.
NHS inform provides information for the public about sickle cell and thalassaemia disorders. Scroll down the each programme pages for access to translated information, Easy Read, and explanatory videos.
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