People in the South West urged to get tested for HIV

While HIV testing in the South West overall increased in 2023 compared to 2022 (73,552 in 2022 to 81,813 in 2023) it remains lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In England, HIV and wider STI testing is free, safe, confidential, and more convenient than ever, including online self-sampling services.

This means you can take samples in the comfort and privacy of your own home and then send the kit away to get your results. You can also find a local sexual health service on the NHS website via their sexual health service locator.

Since the introduction of self-testing kits, home testing has increased in popularity, especially among women and some ethnic minorities who are less likely to test through their local sexual health services.

They can be ordered this week by anyone in England from www.freetesting.hiv to use at home.

Testing can also take place in community settings, not just at-home or at sexual health services.

The UK Health Security Agency has published its community testing survey results today, which show that in 2023, 1,329 tests were done in community settings in the South West – such as nightclubs, festivals, and voluntary sector premises.

The report also found nearly a quarter of all tests were reported among individuals being tested for HIV for the first time. It also highlights the impact of National HIV Testing Week, noting that there was a 22% increase in the number of tests carried out in this time compared to 2022.

Mark McNally, South West Sexual Health Facilitator at UKHSA, said:

“HIV can affect anyone, no matter your gender or sexual orientation. It’s good to see HIV Testing Week once again highlighting the hugely important role regular testing plays in helping to prevent new infections, alongside condom use.

“A HIV test is free from your local sexual health service or by ordering online this week. If you do test positive, treatment is so effective that you can expect to live a long healthy life and you won’t pass HIV on to partners.”

In the South West, HIV Testing Week events will be taking place across the region.

The Terence Higgins Trust is co-ordinating drop-in sexual health testing services at venues across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

The Eddystone Trust, a leading sexual health charity in the South West, is also backing this initiative with a series of free, confidential, and accessible HIV testing sessions in Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Gloucestershire.