The National Health Service (NHS) is expanding its opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing programme to nearly 90 Accident and Emergency (A&E) units across England, with a new £27m investment.
The scheme will automatically test patients for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C unless they opt out. This expansion aims to detect an extra 1,900 people receiving earlier care for HIV each year.
Data from NHS England shows a 40% rise in the detection of blood-borne infections since the pilot scheme began in November 2023. The programme has already caught 7,300 cases of newly-diagnosed blood-borne viruses, including over 1,000 cases of HIV.
The opt-out testing is designed to catch cases in people who would not usually get tested at a sexual health clinic. It can help identify those living with blood-borne viruses before they progress to late-stage conditions.
The NHS hopes this expansion will lead to thousands more early diagnoses and improved treatment outcomes for patients. The scheme also aligns with the government’s pledge to eliminate new HIV transmissions by 2030.
Health experts praise the opt-out testing programme, citing its success in detecting cases and providing timely treatment. One patient who benefited from the programme said he “would have been dead” without it, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgyee03ezwo