Community Team
The Community HIV team led by Anna Bamford offer social and psychological and community nursing care to patients with HIV in Brighton and Hove.
We see people who are confirmed as HIV positive, aged 16 – 65. We provide a nursing and mental health service in Brighton & Hove, Lewes and Newhaven areas; we also offer social care and support in Brighton & Hove only. Once you make contact with the team, we will talk through your concerns with you,provide information, support and advice, and help you find the health and social support you require. This may include linking with HIV hospital services, GPs andvoluntary organisations. We offer people a single point of contact to help them understand their conditions,find out how to keep well, learn about taking their medication, discuss mentalhealth problems, and find out what social care and support they need. There are nine members of the team including a consultant psychiatrist, specialistnurses in HIV and in mental health, and a social worker. We can see people at ourbase at the Old Market in Hove, at home, in hospital or at a health clinic. Our patients come to us from the HIV clinic at the Lawson Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, from local GPs and, sometimes, from other hospital wards. Some people who have just arrived in this country seeking asylum may need extra help. We intervene as early as possible to co-ordinate all the different elements of the care and support people need. We work very closely with in-patient wards, out-patient clinics, and the Elton John research department and we have close links with voluntary organisations such as the Sussex Beacon, Open Door and Terence Higgins Trust. We are respectful and thoughtful. We want people to feel comfortable with us in what is likely to be a long term relationship as people see us when they are first diagnosed and then come back if and when they need to. The make-up of the team reflects the varied needs of HIV positive people living locally. Website: www.southdowns.nhs.uk ent