A&E patients tested for HIV and hepatitis

Those over 16-years old attending A&E at Medway Maritime Hospital will be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C unless they opt out

Patients attending Medway Maritime Hospital's A&E will now be routinely tested for HIV and hepatitis unless they opt out.

The trust is one of about 50 across the country joining the scheme and will involve testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Anyone found to need treatment will be referred to specialist teams at Medway or the Kent Community NHS Trust.

Dr Bayo Da-Costa, consultant and clinical director for acute and emergency medicine, says that patients are often unaware they are living with these viruses. "By conducting routine blood tests, we can spot cases early, help these patients get effective treatment."

In England, many people are believed to be living with undiagnosed HIV, hepatitis B, or C. These viruses can be effectively treated, and cured in the case of hepatitis C, reducing the risk of serious complications and preventing the spread.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the programme aims to screen patients aged 16 and over attending the emergency department at Medway Maritime Hospital for blood-borne viruses as part of their routine blood tests, unless they choose to opt-out.

The hospital sees more than 150,000 patients in the emergency department each year.

The launch of opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses "will allow us to identify many more cases of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C within the community", according to Dr Da-Costa

The national HIV action plan, published by the Department of Health and Social Care, has committed to ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and reducing HIV transmissions by 80% between 2019 and 2025.