Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 4 December 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 6 December 2024. It was answered by Andrew Gwynne (Labour) on Friday, 3 January 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Viral Diseases: Screening

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to continue funding for the opt-out blood-borne virus testing programme at (a) St George's, Epsom and (b) St Helier Hospitals and Health Group beyond March 2025.

Answer

On 28 November 2024, the Prime Minister announced a further £27 million of funding for the continuation of the HIV Emergency Department opt-out testing programme for 2025/26. As part of the extension, more than 90 sites will be offered funding to continue or begin the roll out of HIV opt out testing until March 2026, including St George's, Epsom, and St Helier hospitals.

NHS England will evaluate the costs and feasibility of further extending this programme regarding hepatitis B and C opt-out testing, once budgets for 2025/26 are confirmed, and expects to provide an update on their decision in the early new year.

There are currently no plans to extend opt-out HIV testing beyond emergency departments. However, the Department, together with the UK Health and Security Agency, and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan, which will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, and which we aim to publish in summer 2025.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17928
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust Screening Viral diseases
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk