GET TESTED FOR HIV
People living in certain areas of our region (North-East and Cumbria) can order an HIV test from this site...
The service is available to residents of County Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, North Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland.
It is not available to residents of Cumbria, Northumberland or Newcastle upon Tyne.
Cumbria residents can access Rapid HIV testing in some local pharmacies. See this table for more info. Home testing kits are not available.
Northumberland residents (Over 18 only) can request a free sexually transmitted infection (STI) home testing kit from this page
Newcastle residents can order a free home STI testing kit after registering with this service.
If you are not eligible you will be able to order or book a test from your local Sexual Health service.
HIV AND SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
This page contains a list of the key HIV & Sexual Health Services across the region. The clinic times where stated are as accurate as possible but it is always best to phone the clinic to make appointments and to check times for the drop in service. The best place to go if you think you’ve got a sexually transmitted infection, or if you want a sexual health check-up, is your local sexual health service. Sexual health clinics are completely confidential, so information isn’t accessible to your partner(s) or family for example. However, if you’ve been referred to the clinic by your GP or a hospital in writing, they’ll be kept informed about your diagnosis and treatment. If confidentiality is particularly important to you, go straight to the clinic without seeing your GP. It will help the staff if you’re honest about the kinds of sex you’ve been having, because they’ll be able to do the right tests and treat you promptly. It is recommended that you go for regular sexual health check up’s even if you feel perfectly well and show no symptoms. Some people like to go if they’re starting a new relationship. This way you’re reassured that you’re free from any infections and that you’re not passing anything on to your partner(s).
CUMBRIA SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Birchwood Clinic
Furness General Hospital
Barrow-in-Furness
LA14 4LF
Derwent Clinic
Park Lane
Workington
CA14 2RW
Flatt Walks Health Centre
3 Castle Meadows
Whitehaven
CA28 7QE
Kentwood Clinic
Gillinggate Centre
Kendal
LA9 4JE
Solway Clinic
Hilltop Heights
Carlisle
CA1 2NS
Rapid HIV testing is now available in some pharmacies in Cumbria. You must be 18 or over to access this service. The test is free, simple and confidential. You’ll receive your result in around 15 minutes. The service is available from all of the pharmacies listed below.
| Pharmacy Name | Street Address | Town | Postcode | Contact Number |
| Cohens Pharmacy | 62 Rawlinson Street | Barrow | LA14 2DN | 01229 821956 |
| Dalston Inglewood Pharmacy | 7 Central Drive | Carlisle | CA1 3QB | 01228 523312 |
| Dalston Pharmacy Ltd | 2 Vicars Cottage | Dalston | CA5 7LW | 01228 712506 |
| H.Jobson Chemist | Market Place | Brampton | CA8 1RL | 01697 72501 |
| J.S.Unwin Pharmacy | 91 Main Road, Seaton | Workington | CA14 1JE | 01900 67679 |
| Morrisons Pharmacy | Brunswick Road | Penrith | CA11 7JU | 01768 862055 |
| Seacliffe Pharmacy | 290 High Road | Whitehaven | CA28 9PG | 01946 599860 |
NEWCASTLE SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Sexual Health Services 4 Newcastle
Hadrian House,
Higham Pl,
Newcastle,
NE1 8AF
If you have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection or require complex contraception (such as a coil fitting) please attend one of our emergency walk-in clinics, which operate during the following times:
Monday 8:30am to 12:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Thursday 10:30am to 4.30pm
Morning walk in slots must be booked by telephoning the service on 0800 500 3019 between 8.30am and 9.30am (Mon and Tue ) and 10:30am and 11:30am on Thursday to get an appointment slot (please do not physically attend the clinic on a Monday morning, Tuesday morning or Thursday morning until you have called the service.)
In addition to the emergency walk-in clinics, we operate some specialist clinics:
Monday 3pm to 7pm – LGBTQ+ clinic (walk-in and some limited appointments)
Wednesday 8:45am to 12.30pm – Emergency contraception walk-in clinic (limited to 7 slots)
Wednesday 3:30pm to 5:30pm – Young person’s clinic for those under 18yrs of age (walk-in)
Dedicated clinics for LGBTQ, Emergency Contraception and Young People continue to be walk in and do not require you to phone beforehand.
For patients without symptoms, who are unable or not wanting to access our online testing service, you can call the clinic on 0191 229 2999 or 0800 500 3019 to request an appointment in our Express Clinic, which runs Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.
NORTHUMBERLAND AND NORTH TYNESIDE SEXUAL HEALTH
Northumberland One to One Centre
Blyth Health Centre
Thoroton Street
Blyth
NE24 1DX
0344 72805544
Monday 8.45am – 5pm (Walk-in 8.45am-4pm)
Tuesday 8.45am – 5pm
Wednesday 8.45am – 7.30pm (Walk-in 8.45am-4pm)
Thursday 8.45am – 7.30pm (Walk-in 8.45am-6.30pm)
Friday 8.45am – 3pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm (by appointment only)
North Tyneside One to One Centre
Ward 9, North Tyneside General Hospital,
Rake Lane
North Shields
NE29 8NH
0344 72805544
Monday 8.45am – 5pm (Walk-in 8.45am-4pm)
Tuesday 8.45am – 7.30pm
Wednesday 8.45am – 5pm (Walk-in 8.45am-4pm)
Thursday 8.45am – 7.30pm (Walk-in 8.45am-6.30pm)
Friday 8.45am – 3pm
Saturday 9am – 5pm (by appointment only)
GATESHEAD SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Trinity Square Health Centre
West Street,
Gateshead.
NE8 1AD
- You have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection.
- Need PEP or PrEP.
- Have been informed you have been in contact with a sexually transmitted infection.
- You would like to speak to a member of the team about a sexual health issue.
You will be asked to provide your name, address, date of birth and telephone number and will receive a call back from our nursing team to assess your needs. Following the telephone assessment, the nurse will offer you a suitable appointment with a member of the team.
***Please be advised, if we reach full capacity before 12.15 the line will be closed and you will be asked to call back the following day***
We use an electronic patient record which is only used by our service in Gateshead and not shared with any other system.
For any of the following services, we now offer pre-bookable appointments. Call our reception team between 8.45am – 19.00pm to arrange;
- Fast track screening (if you would like screening for sexually transmitted infections and DO NOT have symptoms).
- Contraception, including appointments for implants and coils.
- Pregnancy testing and pregnancy decision making support.
- Cervical screening (smear test).
Call: 0191 283 1577
Website: www.gatesheadsexualhealth.co.uk/
SOUTH TYNESIDE SEXUAL HEALTH
Palmer Community Hospital,
Wear Street,
Jarrow,
NE32 3UX
Palmer Community Hospital clinic offers a range of sexual health services including: Contraception (pills, injection, implants and IUD/IUS/coils), Condoms and lube, Testing and Treatment of sexually transmitted infections (including patients with symptoms), Pregnancy tests/pregnancy options and Health Advisor.
Website: www.southtynesidesexualhealth.nhs.uk
To make an appointment call: 0191 402 8168
Call between the hours of 08.45am and 12.15pm to book a same day telephone triage assessment if…
- You have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection.
- Need PEP or PrEP.
- Have been informed you have been in contact with a sexually transmitted infection.
- You would like to speak to a member of the team about a sexual health issue.
You will be asked to provide your name, address, date of birth and telephone number and will receive a call back from our nursing team to assess your needs. Following the telephone assessment, the nurse will offer you a suitable appointment with a member of the team.
***Please be advised, if we reach full capacity before 12.15 the line will be closed and you will be asked to call back the following day***
For any of the following services, we now offer pre-bookable appointments. Call our reception team between 8.45am – 7.00pm to arrange;
- Fast track screening (if you would like screening for sexually transmitted infections and DO NOT have symptoms)
- Contraception, including appointments for implants and coils
- Pregnancy testing and pregnancy decision making support
- Cervical screening (smear test)
DURHAM AND DARLINGTON SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
We provide contraception and sexual health services across County Durham and Darlington.
To make an appointment:
County Durham residents please call 0191 372 8700 (Monday – Friday 9am-5pm)
Darlington residents please call 01325 743 203 during clinic opening hours.
Mon, Tues, Thurs - 8:30 to 15:45. Wed - 9:00 to 18:15. Fri - 8:00 to 11:45
For sexual health information, free STI & HIV online testing and free online condoms visit our website:
Sexual Health Services in County Durham and Darlington
SUNDERLAND SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Ground Floor - Chester Lodge,
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road, Sunderland
SR4 7TP
https://www.sunderlandsexualhealth.nhs.uk/services
Please note we are currently experiencing a high number of calls and longer than normal hold times on our phone lines. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
We are no longer offering drop in clinics. To access the service, please telephone (0191) 569 9966 and you will be added to our assessment list. You will receive a call that day from one of our Sexual Health Team, who will assess you and offer advice and an appointment, if necessary, at a time to suit you.
Our clinic opening times (appointment only) are the following:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am to 8pm (last appointment 7.15pm).
Thursday: 1pm to 8pm (last appointment 7.15pm).
Friday: 9am to 5pm (last appointment 4.15pm).
Saturday: 9am to 1pm (last appointment 12.15pm).
If you're aged 16+ and live in Sunderland, you can order a free home Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea postal testing kit.
TEESSIDE SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES
Lawson Street Health Centre
2nd Floor
Stockton-on-Tees
S18 1HU
We provide free and confidential sexual health services in Teesside including information and advice on all types of contraception and STI testing and treatment. Our service is confidential, non-judgmental and for people of all ages, genders and orientations. Everyone is welcome and you don’t need to see a GP first. If you meet the eligibility criteria home testing kits are also available to order online.
You can walk into most of our clinics to attend a walk-in service for contraception and sexual health, the dates and times are listed below;
Lawson Street, Stockton on Tees: Monday 1-6pm, Wednesday 1-5pm
Fens, Hartlepool: Tuesday 1-6pm, Thursday 1-5pm
Live Well Centre, Middlesbrough: Monday 1-5, Thursday 1-6pm
Redcar Heart: Wednesday 1-5, Friday 1-3pm
Alternatively, you can call us on 0300 330 1122 Monday to Friday from 9-5pm to speak to one our team who will sign post you to the most appropriate option based on our availability.
Blue Sky Trust (North East and Cumbria)
Blue Sky Trust supports and connects people in the North East and Cumbria at every step of their HIV journey. Finding out that you, or a loved one, are living with HIV can be a huge shock. Whether it’s providing help to come to terms with the diagnosis, peer mentoring, rebuilding confidence or becoming part of a supportive community, Blue Sky Trust provides a confidential and safe place to connect and thrive.
"Blue Sky Trust is a warm, friendly, homely place where you can feel relaxed and connect with others living with HIV. If you want to talk about it, there's always someone around. It's that warm, embracing inclusive welcome you get when you come." - Paul
Confidential service providing one to one and peer support to men, women and children affected by HIV in the North East.
Call: 07989155175
Write: Blue Sky Trust, The Castlegate, Melbourne Street, Newcastle, NE1 2JQ
Email: info@blueskytrust.org
Website: www.blueskytrust.org