Pride in London is just around the corner on 27 June. The annual Pride in London parade will start at Baker Street at 1pm and finish in Whitehall at around 4.30pm.

While enjoying the excitement of the day it’s important to stay safe. This means practicing safer sex as well as getting tested for HIV.

If condoms are used correctly with plenty of water based lube, the majority of sexually-transmitted infections can be prevented – including HIV.

If you think you’ve had an HIV risk within the past three days, sexual health clinics and A&E can give you a course of medication (post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP) which may prevent you becoming HIV-positive.

HIV is a treatable condition -- early HIV diagnosis means we can start effective treatment at the right time – that means you can live to a normal age in good health.

At the Royal Free London you can drop in for rapid HIV testing and PEP anytime we are open. 

At the Royal Free Hospital you can get tested at the Marlborough Clinic and the Ian Charleson Day Centre, and at Barnet Hospital you can get tested at the Clare Simpson Clinic. 

Our clinics provide advice, testing and treatment for sexual health and family planning as well as HIV. We also have specialist clinics where we can treat patients with HIV in conjunction with other conditions such as hepatitis. We offer psychology and psychiatry services to those who need them and there are early morning/evening clinics for patients who find it difficult to fit appointments in with a full-time job.

Monte Fields, senior health advisor at the Royal Free London, said: “HIV is preventable. If you do get HIV, although there is no cure, it has become a treatable condition that can be managed throughout a healthy life.

“It is really important to diagnose and treat HIV early and continually for the best results – we can help by providing sensitive, non-judgemental and first-rate HIV testing, counselling and treatment for people affected by this life-changing condition.”

The Royal Free Hospital will be hosting a LGBT event on 21 July. Attendees will have the chance to discuss a range of issues affecting the LGBT community. The event will run from 10am to 3pm in the Sir William Wells Atrium at the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street, Hampstead.

Image: An HIV testing kit.

Notes to editors

Media contacts: rf.mediaenquiries@nhs.net or call 020 7830 2963

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver, kidney and bone marrow transplantation, haemophilia, renal, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London.