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AIDS

What is HIV?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). It attacks the body’s defence system, preventing it from fighting off illnesses and infections.

How can HIV be passed on?

A person does not get infected with HIV from daily contact. HIV is NOT passed on by shaking hands, kissing, touching or hugging, sharing cups/cutlery or towels, by sneezing or coughing or from tears or sweat.

HIV can be passed on in the following ways:

• Through unprotected sexual intercourse - vaginal, oral or without using a condom.
• Sharing contaminated needles, syringes and ‘works’
• From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding
• From contaminated blood or blood products

Support for Adults with HIV

Steven James Practice  offers professional counselling for anyone concerned about HIV or other blood-borne viruses. The counsellor can give you advice on where you can be tested and the personal and confidentiality issues arising from it. This service is also available to help family and friends of those affected by HIV or Hepatitis.

All therapy with the counsellor is free and strictly confidential.

Pre-and post-test counselling and a harm minimisation programme is also available through the Poole Addictions Community Team (PACT).

Contact us

To access drug and alcohol support services, please get in touch with Poole Addictions Community Team. Alternatively you can go direct to Steven James Practice.

Support for children with HIV

There's a lot of professional support available to you. In the weeks and months after your diagnosis, you might find that counselling helps you work out your reactions to having HIV. There are also many local and national organisations which you might find particularly helpful at this time.

Social Services and a number of voluntary organisations work with families where a member is HIV positive to deal with any immediate problems, and to help the family plan for the long term care of children. For further information, you can either email the Children and Young People's Social Care  Assessment Team or call them on 01202 735046.

Local and national organisations

Local services and support

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust GUM Clinic

Body Positive Dorset

Quay Advice Centre

National Helplines

Three national helplines offer basic information on HIV and generally trained counsellors who can help you talk through some of your feelings. These helplines are:

Terrence Higgins Trust - Tel: 0845 1221200
National Aids Trust - Tel: 0207 8146767
National Sexual Health Helpline - Tel: 0800 567123
National AIDS Helpline - Tel: 0800 567123 (or 0800 7172227 for other languages)

Further information about HIV and AIDS diagnosis is available from NHS Direct .