HIV & Hepatitis Opt-out Testing Expands to all Birmingham Emergency Departments

Following the success of opt-out testing at Queen Elizabeth Hospital – which began in September 2024 – the scheme has been expanded to cover all emergency departments in Birmingham. As of 18th March 2025, all patients aged 16 and over who have bloods taken at the emergency departments of Heartlands and Good Hope Hospitals in Birmingham will be also be tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C as part of the opt-out testing scheme.

Nationwide, across 64 emergency departments, over 7,300 people have been newly diagnosed with one or more of these blood-borne viruses (BBV). Since rolling the scheme out in Birmingham initially in September 2024, over 22,500 blood-borne virus tests have been conducted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. These tests resulted in 36 new BBV diagnoses, including 4 cases of HIV, 19 of hepatitis B, and 13 of hepatitis C. What’s more, 55 people who had been previously diagnosed but were not receiving care at the time of testing have since been identified too, allowing many of them to be re-engaged with care and treatment.

Staff Nurse Laura Hyslop, Patient Diana Pell, Dr Victoria Siddons, Emergency Department consultant, Dr Steve Taylor, Lead HIV consultant and Clinical Director for the Birmingham Fast Track Cities

Dr Steve Taylor, Lead HIV consultant at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Clinical Director of Fast Track Cities Birmingham, and Saving Lives UK’s Medical Director said: “We’ve already observed significant results with just a few locations in the West Midlands and other cities across the UK joining the programme. This initiative will be a transformative development for our city and the entire country.

“Early diagnosis of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C is vital, as these infections can remain asymptomatic for years, potentially causing substantial damage before any signs appear. Our current medications are lifesaving for HIV and hepatitis B, and we can even cure hepatitis C.

“Effective treatment of HIV prevents transmission to sexual partners, allows individuals to have children, and enables them to live long, healthy lives. Conversely, late diagnosis of hepatitis B and C is linked to higher rates of severe infections, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer.”

Further roll-out of opt-out testing is hoped to continue across the West Midlands during 2025, including: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS FT: Burton Hospital, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust: University Hospital Coventry, and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital.

Those attending emergency departments where this scheme has already been rolled out do not need to do anything different, whenever blood tests taken, testing will be automatic unless the patient chooses to opt-out.