Routine Hepatitis and HIV tests rolled out on NHS in pioneering scheme to detect and treat blood-borne illnesses By Meike Leonard Published: 17:56 EDT, 5 October 2024 | Updated: 17:56 EDT, 5 October 2024 e-mail View comments Routine testing for life-threatening hepatitis B and C is being rolled out on the NHS as part of a pioneering scheme to detect and treat blood-borne illnesses. The programme, which has just been introduced at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, sees all patients arriving at its accident and emergency department automatically tested for the diseases – unless they request to opt out. Blood samples are also being tested for HIV , as data shows that cases among heterosexual Britons have soared by a third in one year.
Research suggests that thousands of people are living with an undiagnosed blood-borne virus which, left untreated, could lead to serious health problems. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of 46 hospitals which have been given funding to take part in the scheme. Routine testing for life-threatening hepatitis B and C is being rolled out on the NHS as part of a pioneering scheme to detect and treat blood-borne illnesses (stock photo) Research suggests that thousands of people are living with an undiagnosed blood-borne virus which, left untreated, could lead to serious health problems (stock photo) The majority of these sites are expected to be up-and-running within a year, while a pilot scheme has been operating since 20.