More than 1,000 people in Greater Manchester have received life-saving diagnoses and treatment for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C – conditions they didn’t know they had – thanks to a national NHS opt-out testing programme launched in emergency departments in 2021.
This testing programme is now live in nine emergency departments across Greater Manchester (Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale Infirmary and Royal Oldham Hospital). Everyone aged 16 and over who has a blood test in these departments is automatically tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, unless they choose to opt out.
Since the programme began:
- Almost 500,000 people have been tested across Greater Manchester.
- More than 160 people have been newly diagnosed with HIV.
- Over 400 people diagnosed with hepatitis B.
- Nearly 500 people diagnosed with hepatitis C.
- Many more people already living with these conditions but not getting treatment have been identified and reconnected to treatment.
This is part of Greater Manchester’s wider commitment as a Fast Track City, working towards ending new transmissions of HIV, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis by 2030. Progress over the last decade has already been significant:
- A 52% reduction in new HIV diagnoses between 2014 and 2023.
- 95% of people living with HIV know their status, up from 87% in 2016.
- 99% of people diagnosed are receiving effective treatment.
- 97% of people on treatment have an undetectable viral load, meaning they cannot pass on HIV sexually.
Dr Sohail Munshi, joint chief medical officer at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said:
“The success of the BBV opt-out testing programme is great news and shows just what a difference we can make to the health of our communities, helping patients who did not know that they had HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C.
“The national NHS 10 Year Health Plan focuses on preventing ill health rather than just treating sickness, and this ambitious scheme does just that by enabling treatment, improving the quality of life, and ultimately saving the lives of people across Greater Manchester.
“I’d like to thank all the clinical teams involved in this work and our partner agencies, particularly the George House Trust, who have helped us engage with our communities to support the scheme. This partnership approach has been key to its success.”
One middle-aged male patient who benefitted from the testing at Manchester Royal Infirmary commented: “I attended A&E for a completely unrelated reason. I feel very grateful I have been diagnosed as I don’t think it’s something I would have been tested for in the near future. Don’t die of ignorance, get tested and take control of your health and help erase the stigma of HIV”.
Dr Javier Vilar, consultant in infectious diseases at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: “Thanks to continued efforts and support, people with Hepatitis C and HIV now have better access to treatment, care, and services, which has driven remarkable progress in care and outcomes. In contrast, Hepatitis B, despite having similar public health targets, has not received the same level of support.
“The emergency department testing programme marks a pivotal step in addressing this imbalance. It has already identified more individuals living with Hepatitis B than those with HIV and Hepatitis C combined. This initiative is saving lives, and I am truly honoured to collaborate with all our partners in this vital work.”
Anyone can take a free, confidential HIV test. For more information, visit George House Trust or PaSH Partnership. There are many effective ways to prevent or reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Visit NHS.UK to find out about the best way to reduce your risk.