Another NHS thread - HIV clinics and GP services, the runaround

[stillsane]

has anyone else experienced this sort of runaround?

hiv clinic: you need to see your GP about that, i do not think that this is and hiv related issue and therefore i cannot help you.
gp: sorry, i am not an hiv expert and i think that this may be hiv related. it could be a side effect, or it could be the hiv. you need see your hiv clinic about it.
hiv clinic: (see above).

repeat process until so irritated that you explode.

[Ann]

Hi there Stillsane, welcome to the forums.

I go to the Royal Liverpool for my hiv care and I've never once had that response from my consultant nor any of the registrars. However, I am always given the option of taking something to my GP. At my clinic, they seem to take the view that anything affecting my health will have an effect on the hiv, so it's all relevant to my hiv health-care.

Have you tried telling your GP that the hiv clinic you attend has told you to see the GP because the problem isn't hiv related? Or telling the clinic that your GP won't help? Could it be that your GP just doesn't want to bother with an hiv positive patient? If so, would it be possible to find a GP who cares?

If changing GPs isn't possible, you may just have to stand up to him and remind him that people with hiv will still experience ordinary health problems that have nothing to do with hiv - and remind him he has a duty of care to treat you.

It may also help if your clinic will communicate with your GP. Next time the clinic refers you on to your GP, get a letter from the clinic to inform your GP of your overall health and why they think the problem isn't hiv related. If they balk at the idea, ask them what better idea they have to stop you from falling through the cracks. This situation just isn't good enough!

Good luck - please keep us posted.

Ann

[carousel]

I have been sent back from my GP and out of hours services Clinics to the HIV doctor, mainly because they want a second opinion.  It can be a hassle.

If I can I go the HIV Clinic for as much as possible, I do.  I haven't been turned away by them and asked to go to my GP.  It's also cheaper, not having to pay for perscriptions.

How regularly do you to your clinic?  I jsut wondered if that's an issue for them.

[stillsane]

i did ask my hiv clinic to recommend a gp to me. but they cant do that apparently.

i visit the clinic about every 2-3 months for my blood tests. but this was something that happened a couple of times over the past year since i started on meds. i never really go to a gp (one visit in 10 years) as i am fortunate enough not to have had many problems. and because i havent found them to be much use in the past. however, the hiv clinic i go to is quite "robust" in their insistence that they will not treat things that they dont consider to be hiv related.

it just annoys me. i think that if they are going to follow that policy, they should at least be able to point me in the direction of a gp service that would be a bit more helpful. or even have gp practices somehow associated with the hiv clinics.

anyway, i have changed my doctor at the hiv clinic now and will see how that goes. i am also considering attending a different clinic though. i have heard good things about the royal free.