Patients attending the emergency department (A&E) at St Peter's Hospital who need a blood test will soon be routinely screened for HIV as part of a national NHS programme.
From Tuesday 4 August 2026, patients aged 18 and over who require a blood test during their emergency department visit will automatically be offered an HIV test unless they choose to opt out.
The screening programme is being introduced to help identify people who may be living with HIV without knowing it and to ensure they can access treatment and support as early as possible. Early diagnosis plays an important role in protecting long-term health.
The test will take place at the same time as other routine blood tests, patients who do not want the HIV test can simply tell a member of staff, and they will still receive any other blood tests required for their care.
Only patients who need a blood test in the emergency department will be included in the programme. If you do not need a blood test during your visit, you will not be tested. Patients are informed through posters, leaflets, videos and other accessible information and may opt out of testing at any time before their blood sample is taken; pre-test counselling is not required.
This NHS England initiative, already established in over 80 hospitals, supports the national ambition to eliminate new HIV diagnoses by 2030.
More information about the programme, including how results are managed and how to opt out, is available on our blood borne virus screening information page.
