Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

HIV: Emergency Department Opt-out Testing

Tuesday 17 October 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Provisional NHS data shows that opt-out testing in emergency departments found around 700 HIV cases in its first year.
  • The Minister committed to assess all evidence regarding further roll-out of opt-out testing by the end of the year.
  • Northern Ireland has seen significant progress in HIV treatment, with medication and healthcare improving quality of life.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Gibson
NHS
Context

There is interest in assessing the impact and effectiveness of opt-out testing for HIV in NHS emergency departments.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of emergency department opt-out testing for HIV?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

Provisional NHS data shows that opt-out testing has found around 700 cases of HIV during its first year. In total, it has found more than 2,000 cases of blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis B and C.

Answered
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Q2 Peter Gibson
NHS
Context

Opt-out testing has been effective in detecting and treating more people earlier, saving NHS money. To meet the 2030 goal of no new HIV infections, resources need to be committed to expand this programme.

Question

I welcome the Minister's news on those figures. He will have seen the impact of opt-out testing—detecting more people, treating them earlier and saving the NHS money. However, if we are to meet our 2030 target on no new infections, we cannot delay a further roll-out of opt-out testing. Will he commit the resources needed to expand it in time for World AIDS Day on 1 December?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

We will assess all the evidence and reply before the end of the year. Opt-out testing is not the only thing we are doing to drive down HIV transmission. We have had a 40% rise in the number of people getting pre-exposure prophylaxis, and we have increased the number of people testing, with 20,000 free testing kits handed out this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to resource allocation and timeline for expanding opt-out HIV testing programme

How: We Will Assess All The Evidence And Reply Before The End Of The Year.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

There is proactive work being done in Northern Ireland, including on PrEP for young people through the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer to the question from the hon. Member for Darlington (Peter Gibson). It is clear that today, HIV is not the death sentence that it once was, because of the progress of medication and healthcare in prolonging life and improving quality of life. In Northern Ireland we are proactive, as the Minister will know, on PrEP and young people. We are doing progressive things through the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Has the Minister had the opportunity to discuss with the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Health Department how we can work better together?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

The hon. Gentleman is completely correct. He has been a fantastic champion on this issue. The UK is leading the world on this issue, hitting the UN's 95-95-95 goals, driving down transmission and reducing stigma.

Not addressed: Discussion between UK government and Northern Ireland Health Department on working together

How: The Hon. Gentleman Is Completely Correct.

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