Health
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The Victorian HIV/AIDS Service at The Alfred

Background

The Victorian HIV/AIDS Service (VHS) was established in 1996 as a centre of excellence in HIV treatment and care in Victoria. The VHS provides integrated care across the acute, sub-acute, ambulatory and community sectors on a local and state-wide basis. The VHS is provided through the Infectious Diseases Unit at Alfred Health.

The VHS provides a significant clinical leadership role in Victoria, through outreach nursing and medical support and the delivery of specialist state-wide services, including the Victorian HIV Consultancy, Victorian Mental Health Service, HIV Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Service and the Victorian Non-occupational Post Exposure Prophylaxis (NPEP) Service. The VHS also includes Fairfield House and Horizon Place. Fairfield House is a 15-bed sub-acute HIV service, which receives transfers for a number of long-term patients from other acute facilities. Horizon Place is a 24-hour supported accommodation facility for people living with HIV/AIDS providing continuity of care for people transitioning from acute and sub-acute services, and for people with HIV/AIDS who require respite care and emergency accommodation.

Services

The Victorian HIV Service comprises a number of speciality services including:

Further information can be obtained by following the above links or visiting the Victorian HIV/AIDS Service website.

Past reviews of the Victorian HIV/AIDS Service

In 2004, DHS and Bayside Health agreed to undertake a review of the Victorian HIV Service at The Alfred. The review aimed to:

  1. Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Victorian HIV Service at The Alfred.
  2. Identify gaps in HIV services currently provided by The Alfred.
  3. Make recommendations to better meet service demands in future years.

The final report, Community consultation on the review of the Victorian HIV/AIDS service at The Alfred, made five key recommendations aimed at implementing change in future service directions.

  Final Report - Consultations on the review of the Victorian HIV/AIDS Service at The Alfred