Sexual health specialist shares expertise at national conference

Clinicians from across the country have sought expertise on HIV prevention from a Swansea Bay sexual health specialist.

Advanced Nurse Practitioner Carly Porter was invited to the “Get Prepped” conference in Bristol to discuss HIV preventative medication Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which was introduced to Wales in 2020, and is more than 99% effective in preventing HIV acquisition.

Carly became Swansea Bay’s nursing lead for PrEP services following a 17-year career in sexual health.

She said: “It felt like a natural progression. My role now centres on providing holistic patient care. As nurses, we focus on the whole person rather than solely on the presenting condition.”

After graduating in 2000, Carly first worked in respiratory health, and transitioned into women’s health and gynaecology, before moving into sexual health in 2009.

Building on her extensive clinical experience, Carly recently completed a Master’s degree in Advanced Clinical practice. In her role as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, she is now equipped to undertake comprehensive patient assessments, formulate clinical decisions, and prescribe medication independently.

This advanced scope of practice within both sexual health and HIV enables her to contribute more autonomously to patient management, enhance continuity of care, and support multidisciplinary working within the service. 

“Within the HIV service, I led the initiation and rollout of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV in 2023, supporting patients to access innovative treatment options aligned with individual needs and preferences,” she said.

“More recently, significant developments since November 2025 have led to the introduction of long-acting injectable PrEP. This novel prevention option has strict eligibility criteria, and I am closely involved in its clinical implementation and patient assessment.

“In our service, some individuals may only attend once, while our patients living with HIV are seen on a regular basis. This means we must ensure that we make every consultation count.

“For example, if an individual attends for a contraceptive implant, we use the opportunity to explore broader sexual health needs, assess for any safeguarding concerns, and ensure they are up to date with appropriate health screening. This holistic approach supports comprehensive, patient-centred care at every interaction.

Rachel Floyd, of the Integrated Sexual Health Team, added: “Carly is responsible for some outstanding work and has achieved so much, and continues to do so.

“Her contribution within the HIV field is truly commendable, and the invitation to speak at the Bristol health conference to showcase her work and represent Swansea Bay UHB is a testament to that.”