Lucy Wood is the lead nurse for HIV testing in the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Lewisham (UHL), which is part of a national programme for blood borne virus (BBV) opt-out testing in EDs funded by NHS England.

For the last 6 years Lucy has been in the role, and she has been an integral part of the development of the roll out of BBV testing at the hospital’s ED. On World AIDS Day, Lucy talks us through the flexibility and emotional care she and the team at the Alexis Clinic (UHL HIV service) offer those newly diagnosed with HIV and how she helps her patients see their lives are still ahead of them and to be lived to the fullest.