7 hours ago
HIV testing in Leeds hospitals can lead to life-saving treatment
More than 35,000 patients have been tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C in the first eight months of a new scheme running in hospitals across Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the tests had led to 11 new cases of HIV being diagnosed, in addition to 101 new - or active - cases of hepatitis B or C."This is such a good opportunity to be able to diagnose those individuals who have these infections and don't realise they do, because we can offer them life-saving treatment," said Dr Emma Page, consultant in virology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust."We're all at risk of blood-borne viruses, and the only way we can know whether we have them or not, is by having a test," she said.
"Offering routine HIV and hepatitis tests in our Emergency Departments can make a huge difference to patients," said Dr Page."It can save lives and give people access to the latest, and most effective, treatments."Dr Page said there are often few indications that a person has HIV or hepatatis B or C initially. "We'll often feel very well with them until we've had the infection for many years," she she highlighted the importance of treatment."There are tablets that people can take to control the infection and prevent them from getting unwell, or tablets that can actually cure some of these infections. "So we're really excited that these tests are happening in our Emergency Departments at the moment," she added.
Dr Sarah Schoeman, genitourinary medicine consultant at the trust, said: "If people are identified as having HIV or hepatitis, there is a very clear, and safe, and quick pathway for you to be referred - either into the HIV service or hepatitis services - to access care, treatment, support, advice."This will ensure that you have all the information you need, to be able to keep yourself healthy going forward, and also eliminate any chance of you passing on any infection to partners as well. "Knowing your status means that you have all the options available to you to be able to access excellent treatment, and a lot of support as well."
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