Adult patients coming in for Emergency Department treatment needing blood tests are now automatically being screened for bloodborne viruses like hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV, getting patients help sooner.
The testing, which has just launched across Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals, screening all patients over the age of 18 needing a blood test, unless they choose to opt-out.
The roll out is part of a national project by NHS England, which aims to identify people living with these viruses who may be unaware.
Those who test positive will be contacted and offered care and treatment options, with the positive impact of earlier diagnosis explained by Laura Hilton, HIV Service Lead across Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
She said: “Identifying patients with these viruses is crucial because hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV, often have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, meaning many people may be living with them or passing them on unknowingly.
“Without early diagnosis and treatment, these conditions can lead to serious or even life-threatening health complications. By screening patients in our A&E departments we can make sure they are given the treatment and support they need to lead healthier lives.”
All tests and results are confidential, with patients only being contacted further if a positive result is shown. If patients don’t need to have a blood test during their visit, they will not be tested.
The testing programme has already proved successful in other parts of the country, including London, Manchester and Brighton, helping detect people living with these viruses, providing early treatment and ultimately saving lives.
Ian Jackson, National Implementation Advisor for Opt-out Testing from NHS England, said: “This programme is part of a very major public health initiative that is changing people’s lives for the better.”