I need help or advice about HIV

Find out about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), how to protect yourself, medication for if you have been exposed to HIV (PEP) and testing for HIV in Southwark.

The National Sexual Health Helpline

The Sexual Health Helpline provides advice and information on all aspects of sexual health.

Phone free: 0300 123 7123 (open from 9am to 8pm, Monday-Friday and Saturday-Sunday 11am to 4pm). Calls will be treated with sensitivity and in strict confidence.

What is HIV

You can find out more about what HIV is, and how to protect yourself.

Support for HIV

Bridges works in partnership with Positively UK, Africa Advocacy Foundation (AAF), Catholics for AIDS Prevention & Support (CAPS) and METRO Charity to support individuals living with HIV to live well and embrace positive futures. The wide range of services on offer include advice and advocacy, family support, counselling and peer support.

It Starts With Me offers advice and support about HIV. The information covers testing, protection, treatment and STI’s associated with HIV. There are also videos and stories of other people's lives and experiences of HIV, STI’s and sexual health.    

HIV prevention

Do It London offers advice and information on the best ways you can prevent HIV through testing, condoms, PrEP and treatment early.

Get tested for HIV online or in person

You can order free STI tests online through Sexual Health London, a confidential service. You can also contact a local sexual health clinic or some GP practices to get tested for HIV.

PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) emergency medication for exposure to HIV

PEP is a course of HIV medication that may stop someone developing HIV infection if they have been exposed to the virus. You need to be treated with PEP within 72 hours of exposure.

How to get PEP in south London

If you are concerned you have been exposed to the HIV virus, please contact one of the local sexual health clinics in south-east London. You will need to be treated within 72 hours of exposure, ideally within the first 24 hours. You can contact a local sexual health clinic to receive treatment.

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) to reduce the risk of getting HIV

PrEP is a drug taken by HIV-negative people before and after sex that reduces the risk of getting HIV. PrEP works by stopping HIV from getting into your body and making copies of itself (replicating). You'll only be protected from HIV infection if there are high enough levels of PrEP in your body, so it's important to take it correctly.

PrEP can be used by anyone from a community or group that is most at risk of HIV, or people who have sex with people from those networks.

How to get PrEP in south London

PrEP is now available for free on the NHS in England from sexual health clinics. To access PrEP, please contact one of the local sexual health clinics in south-east London.

Page last updated: 16 May 2024