Trouble accessing PEP

If you're having trouble accessing PEP, there are a few things you can do to make things move more swiftly.

Use the Chief Medical Officers recommendations

In 2006 the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, wrote to all Primary Care Trusts stating the PEP should be made available as part of a wider HIV prevention strategy. You can download a copy of this letter here.

You might find it useful to print it out and take it with you to show medical staff to support your case.

What if there's no PEP in your area?

Not all Sexual Health clinics and Accident and Emergency departments in the UK have procedures in place to offer PEP. Why not travel to your nearest prescribing centre and try to access PEP there?

Complete our online self-assessment to find your nearest centre.

If you know that PEP is not available in your area, you could do the following:

• Write to the Chief Executive of your local PCT asking them why PEP is not available locally and what steps they intend to take to change that situation. You can find a list of PCTs here.
• Write to your local MP asking them to act on your behalf to get PEP available locally. You can find out who your local MP is here.

You might want to include some of the evidence on why PEP should be available. This is available in the CHAPS PEP briefing paper.