Lead pic: Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew MP, visits Jubilee Library’s HIV and STI test vending machines
Today (Tuesday, February 6), Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew MP, visited Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton to show how easy it is to test for HIV and see the city’s world-leading HIV and sexual health services to mark National HIV Testing Week.
The Minister tested himself using an HIV self-test which gives a result in just 15 minutes. During National HIV Testing Week, anyone in England can order a free self-test or a postal test via freetesting.hiv where you take a sample yourself and send it off to a lab who will then contact you with your result.
The latest HIV data from 2022 shows that one quarter of people who were diagnosed with HIV in Brighton were at a late stage – this means they tested positive for HIV after the virus has already started to damage their immune system. Although this is much lower than the national average which is 48%. As of 2022, there are 1,760 people living with HIV in Brighton.
Minister Andrews visited the Royal Sussex County Hospital to meet local clinicians to discuss National HIV Testing week and opt-out HIV testing, which was introduced in the city in April 2022. All patients who attend A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital are screened for HIV when having routine blood tests, unless they choose to opt out. This has led to an additional 50,000 HIV tests since the programme started. The Minister and clinicians also discussed local priorities in HIV and sexual health including access to HIV prevention pill PrEP.
During the visit, Minister Andrews also visited the Jubilee Library’s HIV and STI test vending machines. Installed by the Martin Fisher Foundation in 2017 these machines are a world first and distribute free self-test kits which give a result in just a few minutes. According to Terrence Higgins Trust, they’ve been instrumental in Brighton in improving diagnosis rates and destigmatising testing.
To mark National HIV Testing Week, Terrence Higgins Trust is also hosting pop-up HIV testing clinics in the city to encourage residents to get tested and know their status. Trained staff from the charity offering free and confidential HIV tests as well as information on HIV, sexual health and free condoms at the University of Brighton on Tuesday, 6 February and Thursday, 8 February. Terrence Higgins Trust’s clinic on Ship Street will be open as usual for anyone who wants an HIV test. Walk-ins are accepted but it is recommended to call 01273 764 200, book online or email brighton.clinic@tht.org.uk to make an appointment.
Testing is free and confidential. It’s also the only way to know if you have HIV and worth doing because people can live with HIV for a long time without any symptoms. If you are HIV positive, you can go on treatment and live a long and healthy life — people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass it on to partners. Anyone diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support.
Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew MP, said: “This National HIV Testing Week, I’m here at the Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton and will be taking the rapid HIV self-test. Scaling up HIV testing is crucial to ending new HIV transmissions within England by 2030. This test is free, easy and confidential, and comes with clear and simple instructions. I’m thankful for the vital work that THT and other service providers do in this area.”
Marc Tweed, Service Manager at Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton, said: “It’s great to see Stuart Andrew MP test to show how quick and convenient HIV testing is. We’re really excited to be testing across Brighton & Hove as part of National HIV Testing Week. Sometimes people are worried about getting a test, or don’t have time. By testing at the university, we hope to show that testing for HIV is easier than you think.
“Getting tested regularly should be something we’re all doing in order to protect ourselves. Today, if you test positive, effective treatment means you can live as long as anyone else and it stops you passing on HIV to partners by reducing the amount of the virus in your blood to undetectable levels. This means that the levels of HIV become so low that the virus cannot be transmitted. Testing for HIV puts you in control and is nothing to be feared.
“Testing is nothing to be feared or embarrassed about. And with less than six years left to achieve the historic goal of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030, every test counts.”
Councillor Tristram Burden, Brighton & Hove City Council’s chair of Adult Social Care, added: “In recent years there’s been a revolution in HIV testing, and treatment is now so effective that people with HIV can live long and healthy lives without fear of ever passing the virus on.
“In the UK, it is estimated there are 4,400 people living with HIV who are not yet diagnosed. If we can identify these last few thousand people, we can stop new transmissions altogether and bring the epidemic to a close. But only if people know their HIV status.
“Through the city’s Towards Zero HIV Taskforce partnership, Brighton & Hove leads the way. We’re very proud to have one of the 8 sexual health and HIV digital vending machines in the city offering free test kits in Jubilee Library.”
National HIV Testing Week runs from Monday, 5 February – Sunday, 11 February and is coordinated by Terrence Higgins Trust on behalf of HIV Prevention England (HPE).
The week encourages people to test for HIV, particularly those from the groups most affected by HIV, including gay and bisexual men and Black African men and women.
For more information about National HIV Testing Week, CLICK HERE
Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton offer support and advice over the phone or in person via appointment. Their general phone number is 01273 764 200. Find out more HERE
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