Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity, Sahir House, said it is “vital” for the latest HIV opt-out testing scheme to be extended to Liverpool.
The call for action comes after NHS England released results on Wednesday, June 7, from the first year of opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing in hospitals in areas with a very high prevalence. The data showed the programme's success is “surpassing all expansions and exposing the postcode lottery in hospital testing”.
Sahir House’s CEO Ant Hopkinson told the ECHO: “The results we have seen from the first year have been astounding. It is vital this programme is now rolled out to areas of high HIV prevalence which includes Liverpool. As a city and city region, we have achieved a great deal towards achieving zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths and zero HIV-related stigma. We do not want to let up on the momentum we have built.”
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In just 12 months, nearly 2,000 people have been found with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C as a result of opt-out testing. The initiative also found an additional 470 people who were previously diagnosed but were not receiving life-changing treatment.
Sahir House’s demand has been supported locally by MP Dan Carden - who has been campaigning for the scheme to be introduced in and around Merseyside since December last year. The Labour representative said: “The evidence is clear. Opt-out testing has already diagnosed thousands of new cases, helped people onto life-changing treatment and saved the NHS millions of pounds.
"Every day the government delays will mean more undiagnosed cases going under the radar, more people lacking the care they need and a bigger hill to climb to reach the 2030 goal.”
The pioneering approach to testing has saved the NHS millions in care costs because those diagnosed have been able to initiate treatment, it has been claimed by the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. Once diagnosed and on effective medication, a person living with HIV can live a long, healthy life and can’t pass on the virus. Hepatitis C can be cleared with medication and treatment can prevent hepatitis B from causing permanent liver damage.
Richard Angell, chief executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The expansion is essential to reaching our life-changing goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030. The results are above and beyond what anyone expected and have demonstrated an incredible return on investment.
“In fact, the NHS data shows if there had been funding in all hospitals where the government’s own guidance recommends opt-out testing takes place, an additional 500 people would be newly diagnosed with HIV or returned to care. Every day that passes, we miss opportunities to find more people with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C across England and ensure they are accessing the care they need. Some will be developing serious illnesses. They cannot afford for there to be a further delay.”
Funding for opt-out testing in the very highest prevalence areas – London, Brighton, Manchester and Blackpool – was allocated as part of the government’s HIV Action Plan in 2021.
In February, as a result of campaigning from MPs and council leaders across the country, Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien committed to considering funding for expanding opt-out HIV testing to the next 32 areas and 42 A&Es with a high HIV prevalence. It’s estimated a further £18 million is needed to implement this for one year.
Several sexual health charities have argued scaling up this testing programme is a “no brainer” as the scheme is effective in diagnosing more women, heterosexuals and those of Black ethnicity who may never go to a sexual health clinic.
Anne Aslett, chief executive at Elton John AIDS Foundation, said: “When the Elton John AIDS Foundation first piloted opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in south London, the results were not only staggering, they also paved the way for opt-out HIV testing to go countrywide.
“Since opt-out testing in the highest prevalence areas began last April, the system has diagnosed people from the ages of 18 to 85. It has been incredible to see how opt-out testing has changed the lives of people living with HIV. No more delays – we need to ensure that opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing is standard practice in this country.”
Deborah Gold, chief executive at National AIDS Trust, added: “Twelve months on and the evidence is clear – it is working. This vital initiative is needed to diagnose the 4,400 people living with undiagnosed HIV across England. The programme is also finding people living with HIV from groups who are less likely to test anywhere else. Now they can receive the care they need and can expect improved health outcomes while preventing the onward transmission of the virus.”
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