COVID-19
This page will be updated with any changes to our services, as well as any useful information in relation to HIV/sexual heath and COVID-19.
HIV and STI testing with Yorkshire MESMAC
As lockdown ends, we will be continuing our practices to keep our staff and service users safe:
- Please wear a face covering when entering our buildings (we can provide these for you if you haven't got one).
- Hand sanitising stations will be available.
- We will clean regular touch points between appointments.
- Please do not attend if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been in contact with COVID-19 in the past 72 hours. We will give you a call before your appointment to confirm this.
We are continuing with these practices so that we can increase the number of appointments available. Appointments will need to be booked in advance at bookatest.mesmac.co.uk.
You can order a free HIV home testing kit here: freetesting.hiv.
SH:24 offer home testing kits, please check here for their eligibility criteria https://sh24.org.uk/.
Freetest.me also offer free home testing kits. Enter your age and postcode to see what's on offer in your area.
All home testing kits arrive in discreet packaging. You just need to collect your samples, post them back and you'll get your results by text.
Where possible we will be moving our counselling service to over the phone or via video call. We are still taking referrals at this time.
We will do all we can to ensure any regular 121s can continue via phone calls or Zoom meetings and we are also looking into providing Zoom options for our groups. If you have any questions about this, please contact your local office/worker for more information.
Our Gender Outreach Workers are following direction from the Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust.They are continuing to operate as a service offering telephone appointments where this is appropriate. This is been reviewed and updated regularly.
In Bradford, services are able to arrange medication supplies for people living with HIV over the phone. This is likely to be the case in most areas, we will update when we hear more.
Bradford:
| Hardship support | Wellington Moyo: 01274 740548, 07872398573 |
| For HIV medication Enquiries | Trinity Centre: 01274 365088 or 01274 365697 |
| Peer support group & food banks information | Ryan Walsh: 01274 395815, 07709673780 |
| HIV & STIs testing, PrEP, PEP | Locala Clinics : 030 3330 9500 |
| Counselling support | Christine Blessing: 07771931327
|
Currently, MESMAC only provides social support for people living with HIV in Bradford. If you are in a different area, you can contact one of our workers to find out your nearest social support service.
Yorkshire MESMAC are currently unable to deliver any face to face work, including testing. All sexual health services are taking phone calls and then triaging these depending on the need. You will need to call your local sexual health service if you need a test, or have questions about your contraception.
It is imperative that we all look after our mental health during this time. Isolation isn't easy for everyone, feeling low, lonely, anxious or stressed can take a toll on our resilience.
Our counselling service is still taking referrals and all our mental health services are offering 121s and groups socials. Please get in touch with us if you feel we can help you around you sexual and mental health.
Switchboard are still currently offering their phone, email and IM services. Don't suffer in silence, talk to someone.
The mental health foundation have a page on tips for looking after your mental health as well, check them out here.