Doctor DILF: Episode 1.4: HIV services & PrEP in the UK

Doctor DILF: Series 1 Episode 4:

HIV services and PrEP in the UK

Dr. Simon Fox chats with specialist HIV nurse David Freeman Powell about NHS HIV services and how HIV has changed over the years.

Why you should listen to this episode…

Doctor DILF is the health podcast for older gay and bisexual men, unpicking what it means to be us in these crazy times. Every episode, Dr. Simon Fox (a specialist in LGBTQ+ healthy aging) talks with experts about the topic of the week, seeking answers and providing food for thought regarding our health and well-being.

This episode is the first in a two-part special season finale, comparing HIV services and PrEP access in the UK and America. In this episode, Simon talks with an NHS HIV specialist nurse in the UK, and next week, he chats with an American sexual health pharmacist in Texas. The idea behind this two-parter is to provide an opportunity for listeners to compare the British National Health Service (NHS), which is mostly free at point of entry, with the American privatised insurance-based healthcare system, and to consider how this affects HIV services and access to PrEP in particular. The listeners are invited to draw their own conclusions, and to join in the conversation on social media using the #DoctorDILF hashtag.

In this episode, Simon talks with David, a specialist HIV nurse with a lengthy career in the NHS. Simon and David discuss the patient journey through HIV services in the UK from diagnosis to forming a concordance with practitioners regarding medication. They also chat about the changing nature of HIV over the decades (with some surprising facts), and who is most impacted by HIV today. They also talk about PrEP, the access to the drug and barriers to getting it, and the stigma which still clings to an HIV diagnosis.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains content some listeners may find distressing. Therefore, listener discretion is advised.

Episode Summary

Part 1 of 2, comparing HIV services and access to PrEP in the UK and USA.

What does the journey through NHS HIV services actually look like? What are the ins and outs of taking PrEP? How has HIV changed over the decades, and who is most affected now? What are the barriers to accessing HIV services? And how can we maintain a healthy sex life?

You can join in the conversation using the #DoctorDILF hashtag on social media!

Subjects Covered

A career in NHS HIV services, complex patients, age demographics, the use of language, barriers to care, the pandemic, the effects of HIV on your health, the journey through HIV services, vaccines and other drugs, how HIV has changed through the decades, where to look for reliable information, taking PrEP, HIV stigma, Black African communities, finding support, and maintaining a healthy sex life.

The Guest

David Freeman Powell worked for decades in the NHS, predominantly as an HIV specialist nurse. In this podcast, he imparts his considerable knowledge about HIV in the UK.

Helpful Links

Mentioned in the programme, you can find the Terrence Higgins Trust here, the George House Trust here, and Sahir House here. You can find further information here.

If you’re looking for evidence-based information on HIV and PrEP, you can find BASHH here, and i-base here.