Homerton's Peer Navigators are transforming HIV care and patient support
Homerton’s outstanding approach to supporting patients newly diagnosed with HIV has been celebrated in a recent article in medical journal The Lancet.
Homerton works closely with partner charity Positively UK, whose ‘peer navigators’ have themselves found ways to live well with HIV. All newly diagnosed patients have the chance to talk with someone who has lived through the same experience and can offer informed reassurance, a listening ear and advice.
An HIV diagnosis can be an be shocking and frightening moment for patients, who may be unaware of medical advances that mean that HIV positive people can live full, healthy lives. Support from a peer navigator can make all the difference.
Evidence shows that these conversations can reduce any feelings of stigma and worry, and keep patients engaged with healthcare. Peer navigators also help with patients facing other challenges and can signpost them to help with everything from housing and immigration issues to loneliness and mental health concerns.
They also play a full part in the hospital’s multidisciplinary team, contributing to care plans, recording notes in the electronic patient record, and providing essential insight from a patient-lived-experience perspective. Their work is especially valued in supporting pregnant women living with HIV and those at risk of disengaging from treatment.
Speaking about the publication, Bas Sadiq, Chief Executive, said:
“This recognition in The Lancet HIV is a testament to the compassion, expertise, and partnership at the heart of Homerton’s HIV services. Our peer supporters bring humanity and hope into clinical care, and their impact on patient experience and outcomes is remarkable. We are immensely proud of them and grateful for the difference they make every day.”
Homerton’s model has become a leading example across London, contributing to the rapid expansion of peer-support-integrated HIV services through Fast Track Cities, with 25 of 26 clinics across the capital now adopting similar approaches.
The Lancet article shines a light on what many colleagues already know: our peer supporters are changing lives and shaping the future of HIV care.
Read more about Living well with HIV services offered at Homerton.