HIV services
Overview
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C
From April 4, 2022, all patients over the age of 16 years who visit a London emergency department and require a blood test, will be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C.
We already screen for several infections or conditions when we take your blood, and these additional checks are now part of our routine screening programme at the Royal Free Hospital and Barnet Hospital.
This is in line with guidance from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Public Health England and NHS England and is part of the government’s commitment to reducing HIV transmission to zero by 2030.
Early diagnosis of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C means people can access the treatment they need sooner and expect to live long and healthy lives.
Many people living with HIV do not know they have the virus as it can take years for symptoms to develop. By testing in this way, treatment can be given sooner and prevent the virus from being passed on.
If you do not wish to be screened for these conditions when you attend one of our emergency departments, please let a member of staff know. This will not affect the care you receive from us.
For more information on routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in our emergency departments, please see our patient leaflet which is available in Arabic, English, English in braille, English large print, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian. English large print and English in braille are available on request from the department.
We treat a wide range of HIV positive people, from all walks of life and at all stages of the illness – if you’re concerned you may have HIV, early symptoms of HIV or have been exposed to HIV then we’d be very happy to help you.
Our service is open-access, which means that you do not need to be referred to the clinic by a GP or other healthcare professional. We provide a confidential service, which means we will not notify your GP, partner, friends or family without your permission.
We provide free, confidential testing as well as advice, counselling and treatment for anyone affected by HIV. You can be tested for HIV at the Ian Charleson Day Centre at the Royal Free Hospital. You do not need to make an appointment to have a test and can simply walk in during clinic hours. The test involves a finger prick and the result is available in minutes.
If you would like to find out more, or are diagnosed HIV positive and would like to make an appointment, please contact us on 020 3758 2029 or email rf.hivinfo@nhs.net .
For updates on our services and other HIV related issues you can follow us on Twitter @ICDCRoyalFree.
Contact
Do you have an appointment?
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Ian Charleson Day Centre
Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
London
NW3 2QGAppointment booking and enquiries: 020 375 82029
Option 1 – Reception, appointments and general enquiries
Option 2 – Nurses Station
Option 3 – Sexual Health test results and enquiries
Option 4 – ICDC Pharmacy
Option 5 – ICDC Secretaries
Helpful numbers for existing patients:
Emergency/out of hours (ward 11 West): 020 7830 2712
Community nurses: 020 7830 2682
Research nurses: 020 7472 6232
Healthcare at home team: 020 7472 6726
Home delivery (freephone book/check delivery): 0800 783 0211
Psychology: 020 7830 2445Alternatively email any enquiries to: rf.hivinfo@nhs.net
Hospital locations
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View in Google Maps
Royal Free Hospital
Hospital switchboard: 0207 794 0500
Referrals
Referral details
Our service is open-access, which means that you do not need to be referred to the clinic by a GP or other healthcare professional. We provide a confidential service, which means we will not notify your GP, partner, friends or family without your permission. If you are diagnosed HIV positive and would like to make an appointment please contact us on 020 375 82029.
The Team
Consultant
Dr Sanjay R Bhagani
Consultant physician/honorary senior lecturer in infectious diseases/HIV medicine
Fax: 020 7830 2730
Dr Fiona Burns
Clinical senior lecturer, honorary consultant physician and clinical lead for HIV
Phone number: 020 7794 0500 ext 38218 (Mondays and Thursdays); 020 3108 2060 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays)
Email address: f.burns@nhs.net/f.burns@ucl.ac.uk
Dr Ian Cropley
Consultant in infectious diseases and HIV
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7830 2648 x36285
PA/secretary email address: ozlem.mersin@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7472 6558
Professor Margaret Johnson
Consultant in thoracic and general medicine, consultant in HIV/AIDS medicine and professor of medicine, UCL
Phone number: 020 7830 2775
Email address: margaret.johnson1@nhs.net
Dr Marc Lipman
Consultant Physician and Professor of Medicine
Phone number: 020 7317 7560
Email address: marclipman@nhs.net
Fax: 020 7317 7561
Dr Tabitha Mahungu
Consultant virologist and ID physician
PA/secretary phone number: 020 3758 2000 ext 33248
Professor Alison Rodger
Professor of Infectious Diseases. Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases and HIV
PA/secretary phone number: 020 7830 2648 x36285
PA/secretary email address: ozlem.mersin@nhs.net
Other key team members
Dr Shimu Khamlichi
Clinical psychologist
Phone number: 020 7830 2445
Email address: shimukhamlichi@nhs.net
Dr Sara Madge
Associate specialist, HIV
Phone number: 020 7830 2775
Email address: sara.madge@nhs.net
Patient leaflets
Read our patient leaflets and publications
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Russian)
.pdf (177 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Romanian)
.pdf (163 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Polish)
.pdf (165 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department (Persian)
.pdf (199 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B & C in the emergency department (Arabic)
.pdf (191 KB)
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Approved: 28/03/2022
Routine testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C in the emergency department
.pdf (160 KB)
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Approved: 26/01/2022
Ian Charleson Day Centre psychology service
.pdf (124 KB)
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Approved: 10/07/2020
Self digital ano-rectal exam (DARE)
.pdf (288 KB)
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Smoking and HIV
.pdf (215 KB)