Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson has written to David Carter, the Chief Executive of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, requesting an update on the progress of the local hospitals' opt-out HIV testing rollout.
Following impressive results in an initial trial rollout in London, Blackpool, Brighton and Manchester, the last Government announced the scheme would be expanded to include Luton & Dunstable Hospital and Bedford Hospital.
As part of the expansion, every emergency department in an area with high prevalence of HIV is receiving a year of testing funds to draw on before April 2026 and local MP Blake is keen to ensure these funds are accessed as soon as possible.
The funding for the expansion will also include post-diagnosis support for people living with HIV.
In his letter, Blake Stephenson, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, wrote:
"I am therefore writing to express my support for the programme at Bedfordshire hospitals and urge you to draw on these funds as quickly as possible.
"The sooner we start testing, the sooner people living with undiagnosed HIV in our area can access the life-saving treatment they need.
"It's incredibly welcome that the Hepatitis C Elimination Fund is matching this expansion so that hepatitis b and hepatitis c testing can be included too. This will be game changing for our local efforts to end new cases of HIV and tackle blood-borne viruses."
