Life-saving A&E screening launched

An initiative to provide potentially life-saving treatment to patients who may be unaware they are living with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C has been launched at Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

The new programme, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), aims to screen patients aged 16 and over attending the Emergency Department (ED) at Medway Maritime Hospital for blood-borne viruses (BBVs) as part of their routine blood tests, unless they choose to opt-out.

Dr Bayo Da-Costa , Consultant and Clinical Director for Acute and Emergency Medicine, said: “This launch of opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses will allow us to identify many more cases of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C within the community. Often, patients have no symptoms and are unaware they are living with these viruses. By conducting routine blood tests, we can spot cases early, help these patients get effective treatment, and reduce the risk of transmission.”

The national HIV action plan, published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has committed to ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and reducing HIV transmissions by 80 per cent between 2019 and 2025.

Sydney Hughes, General Manager for Emergency Medicine, added: “Research studies have shown that testing uptake is higher with an opt-out approach. This programme will not impact the care patients receive; it’s simply an additional step during a routine blood test. Information about screening will be displayed throughout the department and the results will be anonymised and used for research purposes. Only those who require follow-up care will be contacted for further testing and specialist support.”