Moving to Ireland and HIV

If you are living with HIV and are moving to Ireland for the first time, or returning to live in Ireland, you will need to make contact with an HIV clinic to ensure your HIV medical care and treatment is not interrupted.

HIV medication and care is available free of charge in Ireland under the public health system.  Your legal status does not affect this (e.g. refugees or asylum seekers), and you do not need to receive your diagnosis in Ireland to access treatment for free.

It is advisable to contact your chosen HIV clinic before you arrive in Ireland, or as soon as you arrive in Ireland.  Public HIV clinics are located within hospitals in Ireland.  Depending on where you will be living in Ireland you can choose from the following:

Dublin (South)

The GUIDE Clinic – Hospital 5
St. James’s Hospital
James’s Street
Dublin 8

www.guideclinic.ie
Tel: (0)1 416 2315
or (0)1 416 2316

Department of Infectious Diseases,
1st Floor, Clinical Services Building
St. Vincent’s University Hospital
Elm Park
Dublin 4

Tel: (0)1 221 3363
Email: idnursereferrals@svuh.ie

Dublin (North)

Infectious Diseases,
Clinic 6, Level 1, Whitty Wing
The Mater Hospital
Eccles Street
Dublin 7

Tel: (0)1 803 2063

Infectious Diseases Clinic,
Ground Floor, St. John’s Ward
Beaumont Hospital
Beaumont Road
Dublin 9

Tel: (0)1 809 3006
or (0)1 809 2211

Galway

Infectious Diseases Clinic
Galway University Hospital
Newcastle Road
Galway

Tel: (0)91 525 200

Cork

Infectious Diseases Clinic
Cork University Hospital
Wilton
Cork

Tel: (0)21 492 2795

Limerick

Department of Infectious Diseases
University Hospital Limerick
St. Nessan’s Road
Dooradoyle
Co. Limerick

Tel: (0)61 482 382

HIV clinic staff will need official medical documents from your current HIV clinic, doctor, or consultant with the following information:

• details of your HIV positive diagnosis (including the date of the diagnosis).
• a list of your current (and any previous) HIV medications.
• the results of your last 3 blood tests (CD4 counts and Viral Load tests), if possible.
• records of any vaccines for influenza, pneumonia, or hepatitis A and/or B. If you have ever had a baseline chest x-ray or skin test for Tuberculosis (TB), that would also be helpful for the clinic staff to know.

It will be helpful to the HIV clinic if you can get the documents translated into English.

We advise you to bring at least 8 weeks’ supply of your HIV medications with you when moving to Ireland. This is to ensure you have enough medication while you wait for an appointment at the HIV clinic.  You can travel with your HIV medication; there should be no problem bringing your medication into Ireland.

If you lose your HIV medication, or if you cannot bring your HIV medication with you for any reason, contact your chosen HIV clinic immediately on your arrival.

If you have further questions or need any HIV-related supports, please contact the HIV Ireland Community Support team.

Gay and bisexual men should contact the MPOWER Programme outreach team.

You can get more information about Living with HIV in Ireland in HIV Ireland’s Self-Help Guide.