National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) seeks to promote regular testing and aims to reduce the numbers of undiagnosed people and prevent late diagnosis.

It is held every November ahead of World AIDS Day on Dcember 1. This year NHTW is Saturday 16 November – 22 November 2019.

We are  holding drop-ins which are open to all as follows:

• HRI South Drive outpatients 2-3pm Tuesday 19/11/2019 and Thursday 21/11/2019 1-2pm
• Broad Street Halifax drop in clinics every morning Mon-Fri 9-12

While new HIV diagnoses have fallen for a third consecutive year, the latest data from Public Health England (PHE) reports 43% of all diagnoses were late. Public Health England has once again repeated its warning that people diagnosed late face a ten-fold increased risk of short-term mortality.  Kirklees and Calderdale have disproportionally high numbers of late diagnoses.

Population groups with particularly high late diagnoses rates include:

• Heterosexual men (60%)
• Black African adults (52%)
• Those aged 50 and older (59%)

People diagnosed late tend to do less well and are at greater risk of infections.

Our  Genito-Urinary Consultant Lindsay Short,  asked colleagues to consider HIV testing when investigating a patient.  She said: " No risk assessment is needed.  We just explain need to exclude this as a reason for ill health. Let’s work together to reduce late diagnosis. "