The first Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic in Brighton began in a wooden hut at the site of the current Lawson Unit Outpatients building. The service was then relocated to Royal York House at Pool Valley and stayed here until cicra.1995. At this time, there was limited antiretroviral therapy and HIV services were provided by GUM physicians.
In 1995, the Lawson Unit first opened its doors on the current site. A year later, at the age of 30, Martin Fisher was appointed consultant in HIV medicine in Brighton. On arriving, Martin quickly set about establishing access to new drugs and viral load testing for a cohort of around 400 patients and strategically built a strong dynamic team in Brighton. Martin sadly passed away in 2015. The Lawson Unit has continued to develop and expand its services and now boasts a large multi-disciplinary team of professors, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals, providing care for over 2,400 people living with HIV.
The next stage in the journey of the HIV outpatient clinic will be moving to the sixth floor of the brand new hospital building at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in the first quarter of 2023.
What the Lawson Unit staff think:
The Lawson Unit team have been waiting for this move for a long time and are looking forward to being in a spacious purpose-built unit with air conditioning and amazing views of the sea. Being located in the main hospital in a designated clinic space will give patients easy access to other services and facilities and for the first time, HIV outpatient and inpatient services will be co–located on the same floor. There is feeling of cautious excitement as the team prepare for the move and focus on how best to use the fabulous space we have been given. The move is also an opportunity to develop new working relationships while maintaining strong links with existing colleagues and services.
Some staff (but by no means all!) are welcoming the opportunity to walk up six flights to get to the unit and to boost keep their daily step count. Rest assured there is a lift for everyone else!
Now that the move is imminent, some team members are really sad to be leaving the Lawson Unit and very conscious of how big a change this will be for both patients and staff. There is an overriding desire to settle in as quickly as possible so the team can continue to stay ahead of the game providing care for people living with HIV.
What do patients think?
We have talked to patients over the past few months about the move. Some say how safe they feel in the Lawson Unit and how they value not being judged when they attend the service. Others are worried that they won’t be looked after by the same Lawson Unit team and that it will be hard to replicate the ‘family’ feel of the Lawson Unit.
Our amazing reception team really don’t want patients to worry about the move and the whole team are determined to create the same welcoming atmosphere and put our unique Lawson Unit stamp on the new premises. We have a blank canvas that we intend to infuse with the spirit of the Lawson Unit so that patients continue to feel safe and comfortable attending the service.
Colin Fitzpatrick and Eileen Nixon on behalf of the Lawson Unit team