More than 1,000 people not tested for HIV in Sheffield in 2019

A new report from the HIV Commission highlights that more than half a million people across England missed out on a test in 2019. It wants everyone who undertakes a blood test in the NHS to be offered HIV screening.

Public Health England figures show 10,080 people had the opportunity to be tested for HIV at specialist sexual health clinics in Sheffield in 2019 – but 1,784 were not.

However, the rate of patients getting tested did rise from 81.8 per cent in 2018 to 82.3 per cent last year.

Across England, there were over half a million (538,016) missed opportunities to test people during this period – with almost half of those not offered a test, and the rest declining.

There is still no cure for the human immunodeficiency virus, which damages the body's immune system and weakens its ability to fight off other infections and illnesses.

This can lead to a person getting AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, which is a collection of potentially life-threatening illnesses which occur after your immune system has been damaged by HIV.

The HIV Commission's report, released in time for World Aids Day, said screening all blood for HIV, regardless of a patient's gender, ethnicity or sexuality, could help eliminate new cases by 2030.

It said that it is vital testing becomes standard practice when registering for a GP, at cervical screenings, in pharmacies and in accident and emergency departments.

Dame Inga Beale, chairwoman of the commission, said: “Zero new HIV cases in England by 2030 isn’t a pipedream or social media-friendly date plucked from the air – it’s 100 per cent achievable.

"Our vision for 2030 is a realistic one. It will require a significant increase in funding to enable the much-needed step change in HIV testing across our healthcare systems, but will save our NHS money in the long run."

The charity coalition, which includes the Terrence Higgins Trust, National AIDS Trust and Elton John AIDS Foundation, said an estimated 5,900 people in England are living with undiagnosed HIV.

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