Life-saving testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C rolls out in Leicester’s Hospitals’ Emergency Department

Leicester’s Hospitals’ Emergency Department (ED) is set to launch a new screening programme, with the aim of testing more than 100,000 people per year for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

From today (Monday 25 November), every patient aged 18 years and over who is already having blood samples taken for testing will now also have an additional sample taken to screen for the three blood borne viruses, unless they opt out.

The blood borne virus testing will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients who may be unaware that they have one of the viruses.

ED Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Benjamin Feist, is part of the team who brought the project to Leicester’s Hospitals. He said: “It’s so important that we screen patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for these diseases. If we can diagnose people early, they can go on to live full and healthy lives - but we need to start their treatment as soon as possible.

“Through this initiative, we will be playing our part in the global effort to eradicate Hepatitis C and eliminate the transmission of HIV.”

Testing will not be available by request and will only apply to patients who already require a blood sample to be taken for a medical reason within our ED. All results remain confidential and anyone who tests positive for one of the viruses will automatically be referred to our specialist teams for further NHS treatment.

Work to roll out emergency department opt-out testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is being carried out nationally, in line with NHS England’s HIV Action Plan and Eliminating Hepatitis C Programme.

The initiative is funded by NHS England, as part of its strategy to address blood borne viruses, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-research-into-expansion-of-life-saving-hiv-testing-programme