Second A&E unit to offer HIV and hepatitis tests

It is hoped screening patients who need blood tests will reduce transmission rates of the viruses

A second hospital in a county is to offer HIV and hepatitis tests to accident and emergency patients.

The year-long project, which began at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire at the beginning of November, has been extended to Northampton General Hospital (NGH).

It is part of a study by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is aimed at reducing the transmission rates of both viruses.

All adult patients who need a blood test in A&E will be screened but can opt out.

The results of screening will be anonymised and used for the research.

Only patients with reactive tests for HIV or hepatitis B and C will be contacted for further testing and specialist support.

It is being rolled out at Northampton General Hospital from Monday, having already begun in Kettering

NGH’s deputy director for medicine and urgent care, Dr Tristan Dyer, said: "By normalising testing as part of an emergency department attendance when blood is drawn, we help reduce stigma for these conditions and reach patients who might not otherwise come forward."

Dr Sophie Herbert, a consultant with Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust sexual health services, said testing was proving to be effective both in identifying and providing care to people with blood-borne infections.

"It will also help reduce the number of people presenting with late infections and help reduce their prevalence in our communities," she said.

The NHS trust said Northamptonshire had been chosen to run the testing as it had local authority areas with a high prevalence of HIV, with two cases per 1,000 in North Northamptonshire and 2.5 per 1,000 people in West Northamptonshire.

The World Health Organisation has a goal of zero transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis by 2030.