How our services are affected by Coronavirus (Covid-19)
The daily ‘walk-in’ service has been replaced with a telephone service. Please call 01752 431124 to arrange a telephone consultation, on a day that you know you will be able to answer your mobile in a safe and quiet place. During the call, you will be fully assessed by a senior doctor or nurse. If we do need to see you face-to-face, we will arrange a suitable time for you to come in after that call.
Please call between 8.30am and 4.30pm to arrange a telephone consultation, during which we can fully assess your needs. We are closed on Tuesday afternoons after 12.30pm, and at weekends.
SHiP services at the Zone are reduced and are being coordinated from SHiP Derriford. Please check The Zone website for their operating status.
The Cumberland Centre, Tavistock and Kingsbridge clinics are currently closed.
Free condoms by post for 16-25 year olds – call 07867 358187 (Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm) if your usual C-Card site is closed and you need access to free condoms.
STI testing: Please use our free online testing service, or call us for a telephone consultation.
Test results: significant laboratory testing capacity has been diverted to Covid-19 testing. We are working our hardest to get results back to patients within 14 days, but due to the circumstances there may be unavoidable delays. Please bear with us.
Routine Contraception: Patients are able to access their preferred choice of contraception if this is a suitable method for them following an assessment, which is currently performed by telephone due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Where you live and your age may impact which service will provide these options for you.
Many patients are able to access routine and emergency contraception from their own GP.
Mirena coils due to expire: if you are concerned that your Mirena coil is due to expire, there is new expert advice that these devices are safe to stay in place and remain effective for one year beyond their expiry date. This does not necessarily apply to other coils or implants – please call us to discuss options.
Emergency contraception (the morning after pill) is available through SHiP, your GP or enhanced pharmacy providers across the Plymouth and Devon. Please see our Emergency Contraception page for full list (free to women under 25).
The Pregnancy Advisory Service is still operating. A nurse or doctor will call you in advance of your appointment in the days before. Please read the information on the link above now, make sure your phone is switched on and you are in a quiet place where you can talk. Call us on 01752 431129 for new enquires.
Covid-19 vaccine advice for people living with HIV:
There is no interaction between any type of Covid-19 vaccine and any HIV medications.
Vaccines are not given at SHiP but as part of the national vaccine roll-out.
There are 9 vaccine priority groups, which are listed below:
| Priority | Risk groups |
|---|---|
| 1 | Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults |
| 2 | All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers |
| 3 | All those 75 years of age and over |
| 4 | All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (see link below for criteria) |
| 5 | All those 65 years of age and over |
| 6 | Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group (see link below for criteria) |
| 7 | All those 60 years of age and over |
| 8 | All those 55 years of age and over |
| 9 | All those 50 years of age and over |
| 10 | Rest of the population (to be determined) |
The majority of people living with HIV are automatically upgraded to Priority Group 6 (as long as your GP is aware of your status).
A much smaller nuber of patients who are classed as ‘extremely vulnerable’ will be escalated to Priority Group 4. The criteria for these groups can be seen here: HIV and the Covid-19 vaccine. If this is the case we will inform the NHS vaccine coordination centre on your behalf.
There is an online calculator where you can get an estimate of when you are likely to be offered the vaccine.
Updates on how Covid-19 may affect a person living with HIV are available at the links below. In summary:
1. People with CD4 >200 and undetectable on ART are considered at no greater risk than the general population; follow general advice
2. People with CD4 <200, detectable viral load or not on ART may be at higher risk of severe illness; follow general advice
3. People with a CD4 count <50 or opportunistic illness in last 6 months; follow shielding advice for the extremely vulnerable