Routine testing in emergency departments for HIV and hepatitis has found hundreds of people who were not receiving treatment, it was announced today.
The NHS in England says it has found more than 800 patients who were unknowingly living with the viruses.
The testing is undertaken in 33 hospitals in area with high HIV prevalence.
One patient, Anne, from South London, did not know how she contracted HIV. She had a long-term relationship but had also had four tattoos.
She said: “If I became sick or ill, I’d take paracetamol, ride it out, I was always fine. However, this one night my approach wasn’t working and I didn’t really know what was going on.
“You could say I was delirious, sweating, I thought it was menopause related. It became so bad my boys took me to A&E, which I don’t remember. When I came round, I was dazed, confused and in agony. I had all manner of blood tests, a lumber puncture, I was then told I had HIV.
“Routine testing at A&E was a blessing. I’m alive and well, I have medication which keeps me healthy and stops me from passing the virus on.
“I know you can get tested in a sexual health clinic, but I don’t want to go there. The clinic is right off the main road, everyone can see you going in there and I know people would talk.”
Terrence Higgins Trust chief executive Ian Green said: “Opt-out HIV testing is already having a big impact in finding people living with undiagnosed HIV, as well as returning many others to HIV care. This innovative and cost-effective approach is so impactful as it reaches people who are very unlikely to test via any other route.”
NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis added: “The NHS is committed to increasing early detection diagnoses of HIV hepatitis and other blood borne viruses, to ensure people have access to the latest and most effective life-saving medication, which prevents long-term health issues and reduces the chance of unknown transmissions to others.
“The roll out of testing in A&Es is a great example of how the NHS is working to make every contact with patients count when it comes to supporting people to stay well and prevent illness, saving lives and money in the long run.”
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