New Ways to Access PrEP in North East London
In North East London and want to get PrEP? If you live in a North East London borough there are now new ways to get PrEP, in addition to through sexual health clinics. Through a new pilot scheme, PrEP is available through a number of health services, including some GPs, and in community spaces. PrEP is also available online, without having to visit a clinic. The online service is free and confidential.
Eligibility and Participating Boroughs
You need to live in one of these boroughs to get PrEP this way: Barking and Dagenham; City and Hackney; Havering; Newham; Redbridge; Tower Hamlets; and Waltham Forest. If you give an address that’s not in one of those boroughs, you won’t be able to access the online service.
| Eligible North East London Boroughs |
|---|
| Barking and Dagenham |
| City and Hackney |
| Havering |
| Newham |
| Redbridge |
| Tower Hamlets |
| Waltham Forest |
The pilot is a partnership between the London local authorities named above, All East sexual health service, Homerton sexual health service, Preventx, Positive East, and The Love Tank. It is funded by the Elton John Aids Foundation.
How to Access PrEP Online
If you want to access PrEP through the SH dot UK online PrEP service, you can go directly to the link and start the process. To enrol on the online PrEP service you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Phone Number: You’ll need to have a UK based phone number that is yours. This is so the online service can get in touch with you, or text you to tell you when you have messages or results.
- Address: You’ll need to provide details of an address that is in one of the London boroughs above. The address you give will be the one where test kits and the PrEP is sent to.
- Triage: Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be asked some triage questions about the kinds of sex you have had recently, any medical conditions you have, and any medicines you are using. It’s important to answer these questions as honestly as possible.
Testing and Results
If you are accessing the SH dot UK PrEP service on your own, you’ll be asked to provide an address to send an HIV test kit to, as well as a kidney function test. The test kit will take a few days to arrive and includes instructions on how to use the kit. Alternatively, if you are accessing the service through an outreach worker from Positive East or The Love Tank, you will be given a test kit right there for HIV, kidney function, and STIs.
Depending on the responses you give to the triage questions, a health worker from the online service might get in touch to make sure you’re able to start or to continue taking PrEP. This is usually done by messaging through the online portal or sometimes by phone.
Receiving Medication
Once your test kit has been received at the lab, and there are no issues with the results: you’ll be sent up to 3 bottles of PrEP. The medication will be sent to the address you provided. If you want to get a refill of PrEP in the following few months, log into your SH dot UK account to order more.
Support and Outreach
You can also look out for outreach events run by Positive East and The Love Tank, where a trained outreach worker can help you with enrollment onto the online service. If you are concerned about test kits and PrEP being sent to your address, Positive East or The Love Tank might be able to provide an alternative pick-up point for you. If this applies to you, please email [email protected] or [email protected] and ask to arrange a pick-up point.
At any time, you can still access an NHS sexual health clinic, if you want to have an in-person appointment. The SH dot UK online clinical team is available for advice at any point in this process and can be contacted through the online portal.