Hospital screens for syphilis in country first

The hospital is offering syphilis screening for adults

A Tees hospital has launched the country's first pilot programme for syphilis screening for adults.

The James Cook University Hospital is offering the services to 19 to 70-year-olds who already have their blood sampled at the hospital's A&E department. 

The pilot will run for eight weeks from January, and also include routine testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

Patients are informed if they are receiving a test for blood-borne viruses but can decline if they wish.

The test identifies people with undiagnosed infections

“As well as contributing towards national targets to eliminate hepatitis C and HIV, this will be the first pilot programme nationally to include syphilis screening and may help to establish whether this is worth including in other ED screening programmes around the UK," said the hospital's clinical director David Chadwick.

If a patient has received a positive result, they will be contacted to arrange an appointment to discuss the next steps.

However, if they do not hear anything within 28 days, they can assume their tests to be negative.

The test has been successful in identifying people with undiagnosed infections, as well as people with these infections who are not receiving treatment.

Emergency department consultant Catriona Lane said it was great to be "able to help link our emergency department into such an important programme."

“It will not only help us to identify new patients but also those who may have dropped off the system and help give them the treatment they need," she said.