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Introduction: This short report describes the results of a survey that was developed by Public Health England (PHE), the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the Children's HIV Association (CHIVA) and circulated to all UK national health service HIV providers in the UK following the first wave of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2; coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID‐19]) pandemic to assess the impact of the pandemic on HIV clinics. Methods: The survey was created by BHIVA/CHIVA and PHE and was piloted prior to circulation to all HIV clinics within the UK on 3 July 2020. The survey questions were designed to assess the impact of the first wave of COVID‐19 on HIV clinics and lead/senior HIV clinicians. Clinicians' responses were collected between 3 July 2020 and 17 September 2020. The survey responses were collated, and non‐statistical analysis was performed. Results: The results of the survey confirmed that services had undergone substantial changes, including a shift from face‐to‐face consults to predominantly virtual consultations. Some clinicians' responses suggested that the first wave had many negative effects on people living with HIV, including their ability to access mental health services. Conclusion: The first wave of COVID‐19 caused significant changes to HIV services within the UK. There was a shift toward the use of technology in healthcare, and results from subsequent clinician surveys carried out since the first wave of COVID‐19 will reflect the ongoing transformation of care towards a more virtual service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We explore trends in linkage to HIV care following diagnosis and investigate the impact of diagnosis setting on linkage in the era of expanded testing. Methods: All adults (aged ≥ 15 years) diagnosed with HIV between 2005 and 2014 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EW&NI) were followed up until the end of 2017. People who died within 1 month of diagnosis were excluded (n = 1009). Trends in linkage to outpatient care (time to first CD4 count) were examined by sub‐population and diagnosis setting. Logistic regression identified predictors of delayed linkage of > 1 month, > 3 months and > 1 year post‐diagnosis (2012–2014). Results: Overall, 97% (60 250/62 079) of people linked to care; linkage ≤ 1 month was 75% (44 291/59 312), ≤ 3 months was 88% (52 460) and ≤ 1 year was 95% (56 319). Median time to link declined from 15 days [interquartile range (IQR): 4–43] in 2005 to 6 (IQR: 0–20) days in 2014 (similar across sub‐populations/diagnosis settings). In multivariable analysis, delayed linkage to care was associated with acquiring HIV through injecting drug use, heterosexual contact or other routes compared with sex between men (> 1 month/3 months/1 year), being diagnosed in earlier years (> 1 month/3 months/1 year) and having a first CD4 ≥ 200 cells/μL (> 3 months/1 year). Diagnosis outside of sexual health clinics, antenatal services and infectious disease units predicted delays of > 1 month. By 3 months, only diagnosis in 'other' settings (prisons, drug services, community and other medical settings) was significant. Conclusions: Linkage to care following HIV diagnosis is relatively timely in EW&NI. However, non‐traditional testing venues should have well‐defined referral pathways established to facilitate access to care and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]