Earlier this year, NHS England commissioned a pilot scheme across London that aims to identify people who have HIV, Hep B or Hep C.
Dr Gee Yen Shin who leads the coordination between our partner hospitals explains, “Many people don’t know they have Hep C, Hep B or HIV as they are commonly asymptomatic. These are serious communicable diseases but, Hep C can be cured while Hep B and HIV can be suppressed such that people can expect to live a near normal lifespan. However, it’s vital that these people are diagnosed as early as possible. People then know they have to take precautions and as a consequence there’s reduced risk of transmission.”
The NHS England scheme started in April this year. It could help up to 80,000 people unknowingly living with one of the diseases to get a life-saving diagnosis and treatment sooner.
People in London presenting at hospital, who have blood samples taken, will now additionally be tested for the three diseases.
The most affected groups are intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men and people from certain developing countries. The wide ethnic diversity in London makes it an effective place to run the programme.
Sonic Healthcare UK has worked closely with NHS Virologists, ED teams and ICS colleagues to establish analytical capacity, and configure electronic systems to facilitate the testing of consenting individuals.
While Sonic Healthcare UK’s capacity easily accommodates the volume of tests, to be fully effective, the programme also has to be coordinated with appropriate follow up clinics such as specialist liver treatment centres.
The ambition for the scheme is that testing not only supports individual patients but also is cost effective, reducing hospitalisations, and prevents further disease transmissions. Most importantly, this programme has the potential to save lives.