Family doctors, or GPs (General Practitioners) provide all kinds of health care that isn’t related to your HIV. You will not be able to use your HIV clinic for all your health needs. They are specialist there to treat your HIV, and HIVrelated illnesses that might come up.
It is a very good idea for your GP to know you are HIV positive, so they do not prescribe anything that might affect you badly because of having HIV or because of any HIV treatment you have. Some drugs mix together very badly, and the doctor will only know to avoid these if she or he knows what else you are taking.
Richard
My GP didn’t know I was HIV positive and gave me some pills for the problems I was having with my back. I felt terrible after I’d taken them. It was only the next time I was at the clinic and asked about it my HIV doctor told me that it was because my HIV treatment made the effect of those other drugs much bigger. He offered to write to my GP with details of my HIV treatment so this wouldn’t happen again.
Tricia
We were thinking about a mortgage, so I had concerns about any GP medical report putting a stop to that. But there are a few different ways round that. I realised my health care was more important. You need to be registered with a GP to get everyday health care. HIV clinics usually cannot give you medicines like painkillers and sleeping
tablets. They can only give you things that are directly related HIV or the side effects of your HIV medication.
Move on to What will happen at my HIV clinic