Sexual Health Service (Florey Clinic)

We provide ongoing care and treatment for people living with HIV.

COVID Update (January 2021)

If you are HIV positive, please note that you do not need to shield unless your CD4 count is below 50. This is according to the British HIV Association (BHIVA) guidance. The Florey clinic do not send out letters about shielding but your GP may do this.

If you are HIV positive you can have either of the approved vaccinations that prevent infection of SARs-CoV-2 which is the virus that causes COVID-19. Please note the vaccine is currently available via your GP or the Florey clinic can refer patients directly to the RBH vaccination services.

Stable HIV patient on medication with a CD4 count above 50 have a similar risk of COVID-19 as the rest of the population.

Most appointments will be via the telephone. For blood test appointments please attend in the usual way.

Latest guidance for people living with HIV and the coronavirus situation can be found at:

• https://www.tht.org.uk
• https://www.bhiva.org 

Florey unit

At the Florey unit we provide ongoing care and support for people living with HIV.

If you are newly diagnosed please contact the clinic on 0118 322 7202 to arrange an appointment. If you are currently receiving care at another clinic and would like to transfer your care please contact the clinic to make an appointment. It would really help us to have your full medical history from your last clinic so please ask them to send us a letter with your medical history.

Our HIV team is made up of HIV doctors, specialist nurses, health advisors and a dietitian. You can speak with any of the team; we offer confidential support, advice and information on all aspects of HIV and treatment to anyone infected or affected by HIV.

Please feel free to contact the clinic, between Monday and Friday, if you have any concerns, queries or questions before your appointment and thereafter.

All contact is via our reception team on: 0118 322 7202 and a member of the HIV team will return your call as soon as possible.

Health advisors also offer support and advice on HIV and sexual health generally, particularly for issues surrounding partner testing and for checking test results. They can be contacted on 0118 322 7202 as well.

For more information on HIV and services available to you please visit these websites:

• Thames Valley Positive Support
• Terence Higgins Trust
• NAM
• PositivelyUK

We also have a patient leaflet on information for newly diagnosed people with HIV.

For GP's and other providers

If you need advice on HIV please email the HIV doctors team, rbft.triageflorey@nhs.net or please call our reception team on 0118 322 7202 

We offer a full contraception and advice service including 'walk-in' services and clinics.

COVID Update (2021)

Please note that during national lockdown we are trying to reduce the number of people travelling to our clinic. If you have no symptoms or very mild symptoms, then please order an STI test kit which can be completed at home.

Results take up to 14 days from when the Florey Clinc receives the completed test kit and enclosed forms. Results are sent out vi test message.

If you have any symptoms and would like to discuss your symptoms, then please call us on: 0118 322 7202.

Sexual health screening

Sexual health screening is available to everyone at our clinic, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age or sexuality. You don't need your GP to refer you and its free, including medication.

The clinic aims to offer an inclusive and confidential service to all individuals whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or trans.

If you have any questions regarding your sexuality or about what a trip to our clinic might involve for you, please see the sources of information below or give us a call.

The Florey clinic overs a full sexual health screening service including tests for: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphillis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C as well as vaccinations against Hepatitis B. We can provide information, advice and support covering a range of subjects around safer sex, risk reduction, chemsex support and issues around sexuality. See below on how to get a test kit.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

When taken correctly, PrEP greatly reduces the risk of HIV sexual transmission. If you are HIV negative and at high risk of HIV and don't always use condoms, then PrEP can stop your risk of HIV.

Please speak to our clinic staff about how these risks affect you and if you want to discuss starting PrEP.

PrEP is a very effective method of preventing HIV and can be taken by Men and Women who are at risk of HIV infection.

For more information on how to take and please call us to book a telephone call back and also visit i.base.info, for their PrEP guide.

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

If you think you have been at risk of a HIV exposure then you might be eligible for Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). This is a month-long course of HIV drugs that someone takes very soon after sex which had a risk of HIV transmission. The drugs are the same as those taken by people with HIV. The sooner PEP is started, the more likely it is to work; within 24 hours is best, but no later than 72 hours (3 days). After 72 hours PEP is unlikely to work.

PEP is available from the clinic during our opening times. If we are closed then please don't delay, go to Accident and Emergency for an assessment. The sooner you start taking the medication, the better chance you have of preventing HIV.

Sexual Health Screen - How to get a test kit

For a sexual health screening test kit to be sent to your home address order your free kit through www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk. 

A full sexual health screening service including tests for: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphillis, HIV testing (60 seconds), Hepatitis B and C as well as vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B, free treatment and advice can be obtained from the Florey Clinic. Please call us on: 0118 322 7202.

Symptoms - of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

Symptoms of any STI can vary from obvious itchiness, soreness, rashes, to pain when passing urine or opening your bowels, discharge from the penis or vagina, and lumps or sores on the genitals. Symptoms may also include pain in your stomach or groin. If you have any of these please call us on: 0118 322 7202 and request a telephone call back.

Sometimes you will get no symptoms at all or the symptoms will take a long time to show. This means you could be passing infections on to other people without knowing it. The only way to know you have an infection is to have an STI test. You can order your free testing kit through www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk.

Been told you have an infection or a contact of an infection?

If you have received a text message from the Florey unit that you have an infection then you should get a call from us to discuss having treatment being sent to you. Depending on the infection we may ask you to come in for further tests or to receive treatment. If someone has advised you to get tested as they have an infection and this was very recent, then please call us on 0118 322 7202 and request a call back.

If someone has called you to say that they have an infection or you may have an infection but the last contact you had was many weeks ago and you have no symptoms, we would advise you to test and stop having sex until your results are returned to you. You can order your free test kit through www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk.

If you are unsure what to do then please call us on this number 0118 322 7202.

If our team request that you need to come in for an examination, investigation or treatment, most of our appointments take place at:

The Florey Clinic
21a Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5LE

Please note parking facilities are generally very busy so we advise you to leave extra time.

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP is a course of anti-HIV medication that must be started as soon as possible after you've been exposed to HIV, ideally within a few hours.

PEP is also available from the Emergency Department (A&E).

If you think you have been at risk of an HIV exposure then you might be eligible for PEP. This is a month-long course of HIV drugs that someone takes very soon after sex which had a risk of HIV transmission. The drugs are the same ones taken by people with HIV. The sooner PEP is started, the more likely it is to work; within 24 hours is best, but no later than 72 hours (3 days). After 72 hours PEP is unlikely to work.

PEP is available from the clinic during our opening times. If we are closed then DON'T DELAY, go to A&E for assessment as the sooner you start to take the medication, the better chance you have of preventing HIV.

What happens when you come to a clinic?

When you come to the clinic the receptionist will give you a form to fill in, including some personal details such as name and date of birth and a few questions about your reason for attending the clinic. Depending on what you put on this form you will be seen by a doctor or nurse and you may have to wait to be seen. The tests that are taken will not have your name on them.

You will have a discussion with a doctor or nurse about your general health, any symptoms and about your sexual activity.

Not everyone will need an examination; if you do have an examination you will be offered a chaperone.

Everyone is offered tests for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV infection. Some people will need tests for herpes, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Some of the tests may be taken by you others may need to be taken by a doctor or nurse.

Important information: All male patients are required not to pass urine for at least 60 minutes prior to seeing the doctor or nurse. This is especially important for chlamydia testing. 

There are many choices available to you for contraception.

Please note that if you are 26 years old and above you will need a GO referral to access our contraception services. An appointment will be sent to you once we have received the information from your GP. This does not include emergency contraception (sometimes called the morning after pill) which can be accessed from any of our clinics.

All contraception provided from the clinic is free. We can supply, advise and help with all methods including:

• oral contraception (pills)
• patches
• condoms
• diaphragms (caps)
• long acting methods (LARC) which include:
  • injections
  • intrauterine devices and systems
  • implants (under the skin in your arm)

The doctors and nurses have expertise in all methods and can discuss them in detail in order to help you choose the one you think will suit you best.

Visit your contraception guide for a full description of each method 

Emergency contraception - accidents happen!

Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if a contraceptive method fails e.g a condom splits or pills are missed.

The sooner you take action the more effective the treatment will be, so please call into clinic or phone us on 0118 322 7202 if you think you might need emergency contraception.

Two types of emergency contraception:

• the emergency contraceptive pill (sometimes called the morning after pill) - this can be used up to five days after sex.
• the IUD (intrauterine device, or coil) - an IUD can be inserted up to five days after unprotected sex, or up to five days after the earliest time you could have ovulated. The IUD is the best form of emergency contraception and can be left in for five years to give ongoing contraception.

If you are not sure about timing, give us a call and we will discuss your options.

Visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception-guide/pages/emergency-contraception.aspx for more information about emergency contraception.

Emergency contraception is available to patients of all ages. If you require emergency contraception please use our telephone triage service to arrange a call back.

AccessAble Accessibility Guide

Emergency contraception (EC) is also available from:

WestCall - a GP out of hours service which can be reached by calling 111 and asking for them.

Pharmacies - most pharmacies will be able to issue EC for a fee and some pharmacists are available to issue EC to women under the age of 25 for no cost. See www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk for up to date details.

Your GP

Minor Injury Units - the nearest ones to the hospital are at:-

• West Berkshire Community Hospital, London Road, Thatcham, RG19 3AS. - 08:00 am - 22:00 pm, 7 days a week.
• Bracknell Urgent Care Centre, Royal Berkshire Bracknell Healthspace, London Road, Bracknell, RG12 9BG. - 08:00 am - 20:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Walk-In Centre - the nearest one to the hospital is in Broad Street Mall, Reading. - 08:00 am - 20:00 pm, 7 days a week

Emergency Department (A&E) - at Royal Berkshire Hospital, but you may be directed to another local service if they are busy.

What happens when you come to a clinic?

When you come to the clinic the receptionist will give you a form to fill in, including some personal details such as name and date of birth and your reason for attending the clinic. You will have a discussion about your general health and then a discussion about which methods of contraception are suitable for you. Some methods require a second visit for fitting or insertion - this will be discussed at the time with you and an appointment will be made. You will also be offered sexual health screening.

If you've been sexually assaulted there are services that can help.

You don't have to report the assault to the police if you don't want to. Other services and organisations won't insist that you do. However, consider getting medical help as soon as possible because you may need to consider emergency contraception and PEP in certain situations.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted we are often one of the first places people think of coming to for help.

Following an assault there are some options to consider:

• If you want to report it to the police it is a good idea to do that as soon as possible.
• If you are not sure about reporting it to the police you can attend a SARC (details below) or please come to the clinic where we can provide a full range of support, advice, screening, vaccinations, PEPSE, and emergency contraception.

We can also supply information about other agencies that you might like to consider contacting for ongoing support.

Useful numbers and contacts

SARC - Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Website: solacesarc.org.uk
Helpline: 0300 130 3036

There is a service based in Slough for forensic examinations (even if you haven't reported the incident to the police).

Reading Trust House Sexual Abuse Centre
Website: http://trusthousereading.org 
Helpline: 0779 156 7155

You can choose to speak to either a male or female support worker. Trust House Reading can arrange this when you call. 

For more help or advice you might like to look at the NHS websites page on help after rape and sexual assault.

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs)

Many specialist support agencies offer an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service to victims of rape and sexual assault.

An ISVA is trained to look after your needs, and to ensure that you receive care and understanding. They will help you understand how the criminal justice proces works, and will explain things to you, such as what will happen if you report to the police if you want to, and the importance of forensic DNA retrieval.

An ISVA is there to provide you with information only, and you are not expected to report any offence to the police unless you wish to do so.

Berkshire Women's Aid
Website: www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk
Helpline: 0118 950 4003

Police - 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Psychosexual therapy is aimed at helping people who have difficulties in their sexual relations, whether from a physical, emotional or psychological source, or a combination of these.

There are many reasons why people seek the help of a sexual and relationship therapist. It may simply be a query or concern that you would like to discuss or perhaps a sexual problem that has been troubling you for some time and that you would like help with.

For some people one session is all that is needed, others require a longer treatment programme.

Your GP will need to refer you for this therapy. They can do this by emailing the Psychosexual Therapy Service on rbb-tr.psychosexual.therapist@nhs.net. 

Currently, we offer sessions at 21A Craven Road, which is at the Royal Berkshire Hospital site, and also at West Berkshire Community Hospital in Thatcham. Daytime and evening appointments are available.

Useful links

• Counselling matters: sensate focus
• Ejaculation problems
• I'm worried that I (or someone I know) might be addicted to sex
• Lack of sexual desire and / or arousal
• Problems with orgasm
• NHS: Erectile dysfunction
• NHS: Vaginismus
• NHS: Vulvodynia
• RBFT patient leaflet: About psychosexual and relationship therapy
• RBFT patient leaflet: Cognitive Therapy thought record
• RBFT patient leaflet: Mindfulness - self touch
• RBFT patient leaflet: Pelvic floor awareness (men) for psychosexual therapy
• RBFT patient leaflet: Pelvic floor awareness (women) for psychosexual therapy
• RBFT patient Leaflet: Psychosexual therapy
• RBFT patient leaflet: Psychosexual and relationship therapy in detail
• RBFT patient leaflet: Psychosexual and relationship therapy - your service agreement
• RBFT patient leaflet: Vaginal dilator exercises for psychosexual therapy
• The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity