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Health chiefs want to test every A&E patient for HIV
Sophie Goodchild, Health and Social Affairs Correspondent26 Jul 2010
Every patient who attends an A&E clinic could be tested for HIV under controversial plans being considered by health bosses.
In the first move of its kind, the checks could become routine at emergency units and will be offered to any adult attending casualty.
The move is being rolled out at Chelsea & Westminster NHS foundation trust following a hugely successful Department of Health funded study at the south-west London hospital.
It comes amid fears at the rise in HIV cases across London, with the pilot diagnosing nearly half a dozen new cases in just three months.
Health bosses are now keen to adopt the practice across the NHS and a number of other health trusts are already seriously considering the move.
The controversial move has been triggered by concerns that people are spreading the virus unwittingly and revelations that teenage girls as young as 15 are now testing positive for the virus in London.
New figures show that at least one in every four HIV-infected patients is ignorant they are carriers.
Until now, checks have only been carried out at sexual health clinics and on patients who ask to be tested. But health bosses want the test to become as routine as a dental check up.
Dr Rachael Jones, from Chelsea and Westminster hospital, said she has treated nearly a dozen patients under 18 in the last three years in West London but this was just “the tip of the iceberg”.
The consultant blamed ministers for focusing on underage pregnancy instead of on safe sex and said HIV tests should be routine for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
She said: “For a long time it was men having sex with men presenting with the virus. Now we're seeing teenagers coming through for the first time with HIV. It only takes one episode of unprotected sex for them to become infected.”
Her concerns are broadcast tonight in the Channel 4 programme The Hospital.
Dr Jones told the Evening Standard that the “Don't die of ignorance” shock campaign of the Eighties failed to have a lasting impact and that many teenagers do not even know what HIV is.
The virus can now be successfully controlled with special drugs but more than a third of people with HIV receive a late diagnosis because they fail to get tested.
Rise in cases of the silent' virus
Are we winning in the battle against HIV?
No. HIV is on the rise with a near doubling of new cases in some socio-economic groups, costing the NHS billions of pounds in treatment. About 83,000 people in this country are living with HIV. The infection rate among straight couples has risen from 740 in 2004 to 1,130 in 2008.
Why is it proving so difficult to treat?
There is a still a huge stigma surrounding HIV so many people delay being tested. Symptoms such as a high fever can take years to emerge which is why HIV is known as the “silent” virus.
What is the treatment?
Finding a vaccine has proved difficult because the virus mutates very quickly. But earlier this year US scientists revealed they have identified a way of using the immune system to fight HIV.
Reader views (19)
I hear of so many people contracting hiv. My partner contracted hiv 3 years ago, i have been with erika for 5 years now. We still make love on regular accations. Reason for telling you this is because i read your artical and i was horrified. I have tried to explain to the doctors that there is a major reason why i can't contract the virus and they say i am very lucky, i also know they don't care so much because they are trying to deal with the on going people being positive and with the virus it must cost a portune. I have my reasons for why i can not get the virus but no one will listen to me because they don't want to find some clarity in what they are doing. I must add the doctors are perfect in the way they treat and speak to my partner, they are very proffessioal and i adore them.I have 3 reasons why i hav'nt contracted the virus and at the moment it has been correct. I would like someone to contact me and my partner to discuss why i myself cannot contract the virus.. I am not talking s..t i promise you that, all i want is answers.
- Scott, Uxbridge, Middlesex, 29/07/2010 09:56
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AIDS almost certainly originated in Africa from a similar infection (simian AIDS) present among monkeys there. It was spread into the gay and drug-using community in the West by unsafe sexual and drug-taking practices. It has only slowly percolated into the heterosexual community in the West, which is still very much a minority infected group despite frequent allarming reports about massive increases of it in the heterosexual western community by health officials and the press. Since it can be passed on to babies in the womb, this also increases the numbers of this minority group. In Africa the story is different as it is widespread in both sexes in the heterosexual community, in certain African countries, but so is VD, tuberculosis, malnutrition, malaria, and other conditions which already deplete the immune system and which must surely make it easier for the virus to take effect. Add to that the less frequent use of condoms and the more relaxed attitudes towards multiple partners, and reasons for the different picture seemto emerge. So if AIDS is on the increase, then to have everyone tested seems sensible, as the alternative is to test selected groups (e.g. immigrants), and to the PC-bound politicians and bureaucrats, that would never do!
- Anthony Whitmarsh, Melbourne, Australia, 29/07/2010 06:26
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Naa, Black Knight, it's the aliens what did it from their giant flying saucer shielded by clouds at the North Pole. ...Or so Louis Farrakhan says.
- Croyboy, Croydon, UK, 27/07/2010 14:40
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No, testing at A&E is too late: seeing as the vast majority of new HIV cases in the UK, along with TB and hepatitis, are imported, test every immigrant/refugee/asylum-seeker at their port of entry; if they come up positive, send them home.
"NHS" stands for NATIONAL Health Service, not INTERnational Health Service.
- Croyboy, Croydon, UK, 27/07/2010 11:10
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There is compelling evidence that HIV was introduced to sub saharan Africa by Europeans. There is also concrete evidence there was no trace of HIV/AIDS pre colonial or even during the slave trade era. So ask yourselves where it really came from. High prevalence areas appear to be where highlevel of expat europeans were domicile. e.g South Africa , Malawi , Zimbabwe, Kenya etc...There is suppressed evidence that HIV/AIDS was being used as a biological weapon to control numbers and population. Research it yourselves.Eating monkeys is a white wash made up lie!!
- Black Knight, London, 27/07/2010 00:37
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@Jonathan,France,Nice.
Your comments are so ill-informed and misguided.It also shows up your ignorance & racially motivated attitude, regarding this world wide problem.
You prove your lack of detail,by telling us that you're in France, Nice. Please be advised that, NICE, IS A CITY WITHIN THE COUNTRY OF FRANCE.
- Ern,Expat,UKTaxpayer, Clermont, Fl,USA, 26/07/2010 23:23
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@Jonathan,France,Nice.
Your comments are so ill-informed and misguided.It also shows up your ignorance & racially motivated attitude, regarding this world wide problem.
You prove your lack of detail,by telling us that you're in France, Nice. Please be advised that, NICE, IS A CITY WITHIN THE COUNTRY OF FRANCE.
- Ern,Expat,UKTaxpayer, Clermont, Fl,USA, 26/07/2010 23:21
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@ Jonathan,France,Nice
Your remarks are misguided, not base on facts. But on somewhat racially motivated attitude.
I'm old enough to remember when this Aid/HIV first became public. It was blamed on:-
1. A monkey from Africa, 2.Then Africans, 3.Some Haitians, 4.Then the American conspiracy, 5.Homosexuals Sinners.
I suggest, Sir, that you're quite an ignorant individual. FRANCE, IS NOT IN NICE. NICE IS NOT A COUNTRY, BUT A CITY & PARISH AUTORITY.
You need to declare your vested interest.Then,perhaps you might be taken seriously, because of your honesty.
- Ern,Expat,UKTaxpayer, Clermont, Fl,USA, 26/07/2010 20:29
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Maybe this might save us all money when hurds of the sexually active throw themselves on the system with their diseases.
- michael, London, UK, 26/07/2010 20:16
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You know why we have so many aids people in the UK ? The Africans and other 3rd worlders swarming into the UK we are the aids capital and TB capital of Europe , you might not like it but its true. So the next time you are on a bus to Newham and a man is coughting in your face , you perhaps have TB !!!
- Jonathan, France Nice, 26/07/2010 17:07
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I would have thought this would have been done already as a priority .
- Davey_buoy, Chertsey, 26/07/2010 16:10
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"Dr Jones told the Evening Standard that the “Don't die of ignorance” shock campaign of the Eighties failed to have a lasting impact and that many teenagers do not even know what HIV is."
I beg to differ, it made a lot of difference to people who were actually alive at the time.
No teenager today could have been born earlier that 1991, when the campaign was no longer running.
We need another campaign to frighten the life out of people who have casual sex.
Is it worthy dying for a shag???
I'm serious.
- SarahN, London, UK, 26/07/2010 15:56
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Its about time we cut some of the political correctness about and looked at the real issues head on. HIV is still a hiuge killer and carries in many ways. Our immigration system is pitiful and we should make it clear anyone arriving from an at risk area is subject to a blood test. From then the scheme is expanded to all A&E.
Of course A&E numbers wouldn't be so high if GP's surgeries stayed open later but no doubt that will resurface when we look at getting value for money.
- Robert Marshall, London, 26/07/2010 15:42
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isnt it going to be very costly to test every patient.
I'm sure this will be scrapped once the NHS realise they are short staffed for nurses to carry out this procedure.
- asha rani, london, 26/07/2010 15:15
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Given that I'm routinely scanned every four months can I just show them my blood donor card?
I must say, I know I ain't got HIV and I know my missus ain't got it either, so I'm not sure I will be taking it too kindly to them testing my infant children.
- Mark, Gerrymandered African Republic of Southwark, 26/07/2010 14:01
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Test everyone; you have nothing to lose, and only the real truth and the real facts to gain.
Knowledge is power.
Morality is wisdom.
Self respect, is the best respect.
- mickinlondon, london, 26/07/2010 13:42
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Well it is much better to know, you will die if you have it and don't know but will probably live a long life if you find out.. No point burying your head in the sand eh?
- Lee W, London, 26/07/2010 13:28
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It seems to make sense so that should ensure it won't happen.
- PeterR, London, 26/07/2010 13:21
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I have no problem with this screening programme. In fact I totally support it. No doubt many will disagree though.
- jb, sussex, 26/07/2010 12:58
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