HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
This guidance provides advice on patient confidentiality and the sharing of information on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in England. It explains to patients, health professionals and Information Governance (IG) professionals how this personal information is used, shared and kept confidential.
The guidance is aimed at publicly funded services, including those provided by private providers.
It provides advice to health and IG professionals working in organisations across the health system that deliver STI and HIV services, including:
- sexual health services dedicated to providing specialist and non-specialist STI and HIV services (unlike a GP practice or hospital)
- young people’s sexual health services
- online sexual health services
- hospitals (for example HIV treatment services)
- independent abortion clinics offering STI and HIV testing
- pharmacies providing sexual health services
- outreach sexual health services
- GP services
Some of these services will be provided face to face and some will be provided online or remotely.
The Information Commissioner has also provided advice for HIV services to help them handle sensitive information with care.
These IG pages provide clear and consistent IG advice and guidance to patients and service users, health and care staff and IG professionals. NHS England convenes a working group to check and challenge the guidance.
Last edited: 14 May 2026 8:46 am