THE NHS & YOU

Introduction

What is the NHS?

Know your rights

 

 Getting tested for HIV is pointless.  

Knowing if you are HIV-positive will allow you to seek early treatment that can help you stay healthy longer and enable you not to pass on the virus to someone else. Regardless of your HIV status, you can learn how to prevent future infection from HIV or other STDs through counseling offered at many HIV testing centers.

Introduction

If you’ve have been living in the UK for a short time, you may not fully understand how the health care system works in this country. Even if you have been here for some time it can be a little confusing!

The information provided in the section will help you to take steps to access the services that are available to you.

Whether the first step is seeking healthcare now, or finding information for the future, this overview will show you how healthcare professionals can help you.

If you require further information, the Terrence Higgins Trust has leaflets designed specifically for African communities on the NHS or you can phone your local Citizens Advice Bureau. The NHS Gateway has information on accessing all your local NHS services.

The Terrence Higgins Trust can be found at www.tht.org.uk

The Citizens Advice Bureau site ‘Advice Guide’ can be found at www.adviceguide.org.uk

The NHS Gateway can be found at www.nhs.uk

While we have no control over the content of these sites, they are produced by reputable sources and contain up to date information.