Saving Lives One Blood Test at a Time …
Great news just in from our home city… starting today, Tuesday 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 an opt-out testing scheme.
The expansion of the scheme follows the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which started routine opt-out testing in September 2024. Nationwide, across 64 emergency departments, over 7,300 people have been newly diagnosed with one or more of these blood-borne viruses (BBV) – meaning they were unaware of their status. Since 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.
Just as importantly, 55 people who had been previously diagnosed but were not receiving care at the time of testing have since been identified – with many successfully re-engaging with care and treatment.
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.”
Patients can be reassured that all results are handled in the strictest confidence by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals specialising in HIV and hepatitis testing and treatment.
Those attending Birmingham’s emergency departments do not need to do anything extra – if they are already having blood tests taken, they are automatically tested unless they choose to opt-out.
Renuka Chandan, a 71-year-old grandmother from Sutton Coldfield, who was diagnosed with hepatitis B thanks to opt-out testing during a hospital visit for stomach pains said of her diagnosis:
“It’s good to know that I’ve got it and it’s not that serious… but it could have been if I hadn’t been made aware of it”
“I think one should talk about it, because you’re not only helping yourself, you’re helping other people and hence the wider community.”
Dr Susan Dorrian, Emergency Department consultant at Heartlands Hospital Birmingham added:
“This will have been a remarkable achievement that has required immense effort, teamwork, and commitment from numerous colleagues in our laboratories, virology, and emergency departments. Their unwavering dedication to supporting the communities we serve and contributing to the broader public health objective of eradicating HIV and hepatitis transmission has been truly extraordinary.”
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
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital
You can watch BBC Midlands Today’s lunchtime piece on the expansion of opt-out testing here:
