After years of campaigning from local medical professionals, MPs and other advocates, opt-out testing for HIV and hepatitis has begun in Birmingham emergency departments.
The roll-out of opt-out began across 47 sites nationwide including the West Midlands on Wednesday 4th September. All patients aged 16 and over attending the emergency department at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital will now be routinely tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections whenever a blood test is taken unless they opt-out.
Prior to this change, testing someone for HIV required their consent, which often led to people refusing the test, and therefore missing a possible diagnosis. Opt-out testing comes following successful trialling in 34 pilot sites which saw 4,500 people newly diagnosed with one or more of these blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
Dr Victoria Siddons, Emergency Department consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham said: “This is a fantastic programme, and long overdue; we simply want to normalise testing for BBVs as much as possible. It should just be routine as it is for all pregnant women. The benefits of early diagnosis are very clear.
“Routine opt-out testing for HIV and hepatitis for everyone already having bloods taken in the emergency departments of our hospitals is likely to identify hundreds of people who are unknowingly carrying these viruses.”
Dr Steve Taylor, Saving Lives’ Medical Director and Lead HIV consultant at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, who has campaigned for years for opt-out testing, added: “This will be an absolute game-changer for Birmingham, the West Midlands and other cities around the UK joining the programme.
“Early diagnosis of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C is crucial, as for all of these infections, it can be years before a person might show any signs or symptoms, by which time, significant damage to their bodies may have already occurred. Our current medications are lifesaving for HIV and hepatitis B, and we can even cure hepatitis C.
“Successful treatment of HIV means a person cannot pass the virus on to their sexual partners, they may have children, and can expect to live long and healthy lives.”
Rachel Greeves, Saving Lives’ Positive Peers Manager commented: “Opt-out testing will ensure that many more people receive the diagnosis they need to access the care that will save their lives. Peer support is an essential element of that care – and here in Birmingham we’ve worked from the grassroots up to be ready for this important moment.”
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