If you have active symptoms (like pain, a rash, or unusual discharge), you need to visit a physical sexual health clinic, known as a GUM (Genitourinary Medicine) clinic.

HSCNI clinics provide comprehensive, free, and highly confidential testing and treatment. The challenge is navigating the triage and appointment systems, which vary by Trust.

🏥 Finding Your Local Clinic

Belfast: The primary GUM clinic is at the Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast HSC Trust). This is the most LGBTQ+-experienced clinic in Northern Ireland and the main hub for complex care.

  • Booking Note: The Belfast GUM appointment line (028 9615 2111) is highly competitive and strictly operates from 8:15 AM to 11:00 AM, Monday to Friday.

Outside Belfast: The other Trusts operate clinics in major towns:

  • Western Trust: Altnagelvin Area Hospital (Derry/Londonderry) and Omagh.
  • Southern Trust: Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill (Newry).
  • Northern Trust: Causeway Hospital (Coleraine).
  • South Eastern Trust: Downe Hospital.

Check sexualhealthni.info for current phone numbers and opening hours.

📅 The Appointment System

Walk-ins for routine checkups are no longer the standard model. You must call ahead.

The Morning Rush: Most clinics open their appointment lines early in the morning and allocate slots on a triage basis. If you need a same-day slot for acute symptoms, you must call exactly when the lines open.

🩸 What Happens at the Clinic

When you arrive, you will be asked to fill out a sexual history questionnaire. Be completely honest. Your answers determine what tests you get, and the clinic operates under the strict NHS Firewall.

The Three-Site Principle

For men who have sex with men, a urine sample is never enough. The clinic will automatically apply the "three-site" testing protocol:

  1. Urine: To check for chlamydia and gonorrhoea in the urethra.
  2. Throat Swab: To check for oral infections.
  3. Rectal Swab: To check for anal infections.

Blood Tests

A nurse will draw blood from your arm to test for HIV and Syphilis. If you are on PrEP, they will also test your kidney function. Depending on your history, they may also test for Hepatitis A, B, and C.

Results

Standard screening results take between 3 and 10 days. You will receive a text message if everything is clear. If something is positive, the clinic will call you directly to arrange treatment. If you have symptoms on the day, a doctor may perform microscopy to provide an immediate diagnosis and antibiotics before you leave.

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