Sir Keir Starmer announces funding for A&E tests to mark World AIDS Day

Sir Keir Starmer has announced funding to help the UK aim to stop new HIV infections by 2030.

The Prime Minister has pledged £27 million to expand the emergency department testing programme, where blood tests are automatically tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C unless the patient opts out.

Speaking at a Downing Street reception ahead of World AIDS Day on Sunday, he also reiterated his aim to end new HIV cases in the UK in the coming years.

Sir Keir told the Downing Street reception: “I am determined that this generation will be the generation that will end new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030.”

He continued: “We can do something about this and it’s very pleasing to be able to say so by confirming that we will be expanding A&E opt-out HIV testing, a program that has carried out more than two million HIV tests in the last few years.” years.

“We need to diagnose as many cases as possible quickly, which allows us to give the best possible treatment and stop the virus from being transmitted to others.

“It’s about testing, it’s about early intervention, it’s about the opportunity to make a difference like that, because dignity is at the core of all of this, and that’s something I care deeply about.”

We will be together no matter how long it takes, to commemorate those we lost, to support those living with HIV today, and with the determination to be the first country in the world in the future. This ends new HIV cases.

According to Number 10, the first 24 months of the testing program saw 2,018,943 HIV tests, 1,535,707 Hepatitis C virus tests and 1,221,961 Hepatitis B virus tests across 34 emergency departments.

The HIV action plan is planned to be published in the summer of 2025.

Labor has promised such a plan for England to eliminate new cases as part of its commitment to reduce health inequalities.

Among those attending Thursday’s reception were representatives from the National Aids Foundation, the Elton John Aids Foundation and the Terrence Higgins Foundation.