The NHS is rolling out routine testing for life-threatening hepatitis B and C as part of a pioneering plan to detect and treat blood-borne diseases.
The programme, which has just been introduced at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, sees all patients arriving at its accident and emergency department automatically screened for illnesses, unless they ask not to take part.
Blood samples are also being tested for HIV as data shows cases among straight Britons have soared by a third in a year.
Research suggests thousands of people are living with an undiagnosed blood-borne virus that, if left untreated, could lead to serious health problems.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of 46 hospitals that have received funding to take part in the scheme.
Routine testing for life-threatening hepatitis B and C is being rolled out across the NHS as part of a pioneering scheme to detect and treat blood-borne diseases (file photo)
Research suggests thousands of people are living with an undiagnosed blood-borne virus that, if left untreated, could lead to serious health problems (file photo)
Most of these sites are expected to be operational within a year, while a pilot scheme has been running since 2022.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection that can be transmitted through blood, semen, and vaginal fluids.
While the infection usually goes away on its own without treatment, it can also become chronic and cause lasting liver damage.
Hepatitis C infections, which also affect the liver, can be life-threatening if left untreated, but if caught early, they are curable.
The disease, which is usually transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood, often has no noticeable symptoms until the liver has suffered significant damage, leaving many victims unaware that they have the condition until it develops. However, once diagnosed, hepatitis C can be treated with weekly injections or pills.
Dr Rachel Foster, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Acute Medicine at Sheffield Teaching
Hospitals, said: “We are very excited to implement this life-saving routine testing program for blood-borne viruses in our emergency department.”
“In other parts of the country, the scheme has had a significant impact on the diagnosis of thousands of people who would not otherwise have known they had HIV, hepatitis B or C.”
He added: We are proud to improve the lives of the people we serve. We also hope that the plan will normalize HIV testing and thus reduce the associated stigma.’