Brighton and Hove could help lead the way in eradicating new cases of HIV with a pilot project aimed at extending community testing. The aim would be to catch cases early, when treatment tends to be more effective and cheaper, and to eliminate new cases within 10 years.
Responding to a letter by Brighton’s three MPs (Caroline Lucas, Peter Kyle and Lloyd Russell-Moyle), health minister Jo Churcill said she is keen to work with areas like Brighton and Hove to learn from the city’s pioneering approach to prevention, testing and reducing late diagnosis of HIV.
The pilot would see HIV testing being made available when people attend A and E, register for a new GP and at pharmacies in the city in order to normalise testing in the community.
They believe that Brighton and Hove is the perfect place for a pilot project because it has some of the best online testing services in the country, and it was the first place in Britain to have “HIV Fast-Track City” status – aimed at eliminating new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.
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