Southampton City Council welcomes new HIV testing funds for University Hospital Southampton to mark World AIDS Day

Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing and Deputy Leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Lorna Fielker has welcomed a landmark investment in new HIV testing funds for University Hospital Southampton.

Ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December, the new Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has announced that the government will be rolling out an innovative new HIV testing approach to all areas with a high prevalence of HIV, including Southampton.

The announcement follows the incredible success of opt-out testing in A&Es in London, Brighton, Blackpool and Manchester. Nearly 1,000 people have been found with HIV and a furthermore than 3,000 with hepatitis B and C, in just 18 months in four cities.

Last year, Councillor Fielker wrote to the Health Secretary to highlight the success of the opt-out testing programme and call for funds for Southampton.

As a result of this investment, everyone who has a blood test in University Hospital Southampton’s A&E and 45 more across the country will be tested for HIV and hepatitis, unless they ask not to be. Opt-out HIV testing helps tackle shocking rates of late diagnosis, with more than 4 in 10 people nationally still being diagnosed late. Those diagnosed in A&Es are more likely to be of Black ethnicity, women and older than those diagnoses in sexual health departments.

The nearly £20 million of funding announced this week will lead to a tripling of the number of HIV tests done in England next year. This is crucial for finding the 4,400 people living with undiagnosed HIV in England, who are twice as likely to live outside of London. Opt-out HIV testing in A&E will turbo-charge local efforts to find these people.

Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, has been calling for this expansion – saying it will be essential to meet the Government’s goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Deputy Leader of Southampton City Council said: “I am delighted that the new Health Secretary has heard my call for vital HIV testing funds for University Hospital Southampton. Opt-out HIV testing in A&Es saves lives, saves money and relieves pressure on the NHS. This approach is exactly what is needed to find the undiagnosed and end new cases of HIV by 2030. I am determined that Southampton plays our part in making that goal a reality.”

Clare Scholfield, Clinical Director for Sexual Health at Solent NHS Trust, said: “We are really supportive of the opt-out approach because we know that it will contribute significantly in reducing undiagnosed cases of HIV, and work towards the Government’s 2030 goal of ending new HIV cases. Diagnosing HIV means that individuals can get the treatment they need to lead the healthiest lives they can. We remain committed to working alongside our partners in acute Trusts in making HIV testing and diagnoses as swift and seamless as possible.”

Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said: “Today’s announcement is the testing turbo boost we need if we are to end new HIV cases by 2030. It’s hugely significant that an additional two million HIV tests will be carried out in A&Es over the next year thanks to a temporary but wholesale expansion of opt-out HIV testing to 46 additional hospitals. With this landmark investment, opt-out HIV testing in A&Es will account for more than half of all tests in England. This major ramping up of testing is absolutely crucial to find the 4,400 people still living with undiagnosed HIV.”