i rang the dwp today as i sent my original form back in january and they still havent recieved my specialists report, i told them that i had heard they were writing to gps, i explained that some people have not disclosed their status to gps because it can stop people getting insurance etc, i also explained that the matter of patients not having disclosed their  status to gps is covered  in the dwp handbook,she said that she didnt realise it was in the handbook, she said that they had not written to my gp but were still waiting for a respopnse from my specialist, i also asked her if she thought it was lawful to disclose someones status without consent and she said she wasnt sure, i said that perhaps they should start seeking advice because they may be breaking confidentiality laws

I am just so glad that my GP filled in part 9 of my review pack before it was sent back.

OK, my GP practice already knew my status = I've had nothing to lose there for many years and actually my GP surgery is full of younger and pretty well informed doctors who have no great hang ups and always try to do what they can even if they sometimes need to ring the clinic first to discuss it.  At least they don't just fob us off and send us (may partner or I) back to the clinic when we go into the surgery with things like a heavy cold and stuff.  And guess what, I don't live in the centre of London, but out in a village in Hertfordshire where HIV prevalence is much lower than places like Vauxhall or Earls Court.

I know lots of people have real hang ups over disclosing to their GP, I know people whose careers have been ruined as a result because once you've told the GP you can't take it back so they will, if asked, have to answer truly if asked about your HIV status.  Living out in the sticks I was worried that too many people would find out and make life difficult for me and my partner, but actually we haven't had any trouble at all.

Of course I'd be furious if the DWP wrote to my GP when I'd said "please don't contact them".  Furious because that takes control of the disclosure scenario from me and hands it to someone I'll never know or see (but have spoken to on the phone at DWP in Blackpool and was helpful and apologetic when she made a slight cock up).  Furious because the GP can't then pretend they don't know the information.  Furious because many GPs are bigots and do discriminate against "people like that".

Thankfully, I've jumped that hurdle and had a fairly soft landing.  I get much better care when I'm "under the weather" and it's just a heavy cold or infection that may or may not be HIV related.  At least I don't have to drive 25 miles to get to the HIV clinic only to be told to go to my GP surgery!

But the big issue here is on whether we can trust GPs with this knowledge.  It's obviously a lottery and there are only certain practices where you'd be "safe" disclosing, while there are loads of others where you simply don't know .. until you try it.  That means running the risk that you end up losing your job or have a brick put through your window just because you went to the doctors .... or just because DWP sent a form to your GP.  If we don't tell people this is what happens, no one will appreciate why we, as people with HIV, get so touchy about disclosures like this.  What I have found is that most people start to at least acknowledge why HIV is so "special" (for special, read ghastly) and it's an issue that won't go away unless some of us keep hammering home this kind of message.

I never actually thought I would retain the maximum care component, but I did, along with top rate mobility.  That has taken a weight of my mind as this whole thing had me really worried.  Now I can get on with things again.