Terrence Higgins Trust Hampshire

Stigma hurts people more than HIV. Today, HIV is treatable and effective medication means it can’t be passed on. But stigma towards people living with HIV still exists, and still hurts. Zero HIV Stigma Day is on Sunday 21 July.

Look 👀

Don’t miss out! You can still order a free HIV test kit to do at home via https://freetesting.hiv.

Testing for HIV is quick, easy and free — and your kit will be delivered to your door in plain packaging.

The vast majority of people get a negative result, but it’s always better to know.

Testing, treatment, PEP and PrEP are key in ending new cases of HIV by 2030 With 'medicine' the theme of LGBT+ History Month this year, Richard Angell reflects on the remarkable progress made in the fight against HIV.

Get a FREE HIV test delivered

New HIV data has revealed stark inequalities in progress towards ending new cases by 2030 – it’s a clear warning that urgent action is needed to make the goal a reality.

While testing among gay and bis*xual men was highest on record, testing levels in other groups lag behind pre-Covid levels.

Increasing HIV testing is absolutely crucial to ending transmissions within the decade – but today’s data shows the progress being made isn’t rapid enough nor being felt equally across all groups. No one should leave a s*xual health clinic without having a HIV test.

The UKHSA have revealed there were 3,805 new diagnoses in 2022. For the first time, figures from the highly successful opt-out HIV testing programme are included in the official figures, with at least 153 people diagnosed in this new setting in 2022. But, as A&Es ramp up HIV testing the progress in s*xual health services is disappointing.

“Opt-out HIV testing in A&E departments among areas of very high relative prevalence has been hugely successful in finding people living with undiagnosed HIV who are very unlikely to test via any other route," said our Chief Executive, Richard Angell.

"Those diagnosed in the pilots were more likely to be heteros*xual, women and of Black ethnicity than those diagnosed via s*xual health departments. That innovative intervention via A&E departments now needs to be urgently expanded beyond London, Brighton, Manchester and Blackpool to build on that progress and identify more people who are HIV positive, but unaware of their status and potentially inadvertently transmitting the virus.”

"While testing rates among heteros*xuals in s*xual health services has increased markedly since 2021, they still lag behind pre-COVID levels at a time when they need to be far, far higher. Testing among heteros*xual and bis*xual women was at 81% of the level seen in 2019, with heteros*xual men even worse at two-thirds of pre-COVID levels. The option to order a HIV test online to do at home is helping to increase testing rates, but this shouldn’t be at the expense of building back face-to-face testing."

"We need more heteros*xual men, more heteros*xual women and more people of colour to be accessing HIV testing and prevention – which means offering testing and PrEP where people actually access their s*xual and reproductive healthcare and an expansion of the ways in which they are available."

“PrEP usage has been growing for the best part of a decade but it remains under-utilised. Our recent research found that the average waiting time for a PrEP appointment at a s*xual health clinic was a whopping 12 weeks. It is time to make PrEP more accessible – it should be available through a year round online service and in community pharmacies and GPs."

“The next parliament is the last chance of acting to make ending new HIV cases by 2030 a reality or not. And, when we have the tools necessary to do it, anything less would be absolutely indefensible. We cannot miss this chance.”

More gay and bis*xual men got tested for HIV than ever before in England last year Last year saw record amounts of HIV testing among gay, bis*xual and other men who have s*x with men (GBMSM) in England.

We are at THT Hampshire supporting Sexual Health Week 2023. It’s really important to play it safe to reduce the risk of infection from HIV and STIs. Contact us if you like any information on HIV and STIs.
*xualhealth
*xualhealthweek
*xualhealthweek2023

For information on local testing, clinics, condoms and l**e please check out www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk

If you haven’t already had your Mpox vaccine there is still time, the vaccine programme is drawing to a close with the deadline for the first dose on the 16th June 2023 and for the second dose the deadline is 31st July 2023.
Please don’t miss out on this important chance to protect yourself and others from Mpox. You can contact service across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton visit www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk to book an appointment alternatively call 03003002016 the service is here to take your call.

Get your free tote bag | Terrence Higgins Trust Together we can end new cases of HIV by 2030.

Richard Angell becomes Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust | Terrence Higgins Trust Richard writes his first message as our new CEO.

Today we wish a fond farewell to our CEO of the past seven years, Ian Green. Here he reflects on amazing progress, his proudest moments and the work we still have ahead to end new HIV transmission by 2030 and keep s*xual and reproductive health priorities firmly on the agenda. 💜

Ian Green’s final thoughts as CEO | Terrence Higgins Trust On his final day as Chief Executive, Ian Green OBE looks back on his past seven years leading Terrence Higgins Trust.

HIV testing: Free DIY home kit offered in England The kit is small enough to fit through a letterbox and arrives in plain packaging through the post.

Infected blood inquiry: Five things we have learned An inquiry into the "worst treatment disaster in NHS history" prepares to hear its final evidence.

Welcome to our new CEO Richard Angell

Richard Angell appointed as new Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust | Terrence Higgins Trust The new Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust has been announced with current Campaigns Director Richard Angell being appointed by the charity’s Board of Trustees.

National HIV Testing Week is back with a new look for 2023!

From Monday 6 February we're encouraging people across the country to get tested and know their status - because HIV can affect anyone. This helps to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late.

This year, we're replacing 'Give HIV The Finger' With 'I Test' to explore people's different reasons for testing whether it's to help you live your life, whatever the result, or to be part of the generation that stops HIV.

Testing is the only way to know if you have HIV. Most tests come back negative, but it's always better to know. If you do get a positive result, it's important to know you can live a long and fulfilling life with HIV. There's support available to help you process the change and people on effective HIV treatment to partners.

HIV has changed. Tell everyone. Get tested.

EastEnders are working alongside Terrence Higgins Trust on a new story which will see Zack Hudson diagnosed with HIV.

Zack Hudson, played by James Farrar, receives the diagnosis this month when a former acquaintance, Brett, turns up in Walford and reveals that he has been diagnosed with HIV and urges Zack to get tested.

EastEnders is working closely with Terence Higgins Trust to accurately reflect and raise awareness of HIV, from the aftermath of receiving a HIV diagnosis to the treatment options and implications for Zack reflecting what it is now like to live with the virus.

Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust said: “It’s been incredible to work with EastEnders on Zack’s story to show people across the UK that an HIV diagnosis doesn’t have to stop you from living life to the fullest.”

“During the height of the HIV epidemic in the 1990s, we worked with EastEnders on Mark Fowler’s story to ensure HIV was portrayed accurately on screen. Mark was the first mainstream British TV character to be diagnosed with HIV. His story was viewed by millions and helped change attitudes about the virus when fear and misinformation was rife.”

Over 30 years on from Mark’s storyline and sadly myths about HIV are still held by far too many people. The incredible progress we’ve made around HIV means people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass on the virus and can have a normal lifespan. We hope that Zack’s storyline will educate viewers on the reality of HIV in 2023 and spark conversations in living rooms across the UK.”

Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer said: “ has never shied away from covering sensitive issues and Zack’s story is one of these. There are still so many myths and disinformation surrounding HIV, so working closely with Terrence Higgins Trust has enabled us to really understand what it is like for those that are diagnosed with HIV and we hope that this storyline will bring more awareness of HIV and what it is like to live with the virus in 2023.”

Opt-out HIV testing in A&Es works, with more than 100 new HIV diagnoses and over 60 people returned to HIV care in just the first 100 days of this in areas where HIV is classed as "very high".

Now it must be expanded to the next tier of places where HIV prevalence is high (as opposed to "very high") and where action is needed. That's why Liverpool MP, Dan Carden, has written to the Health Secretary calling for action to find those living with HIV and unaware in his city.

"There are over 5,000 people living with undiagnosed HIV in the UK – and Liverpool is a high HIV prevalence area," says Mr Carden.

"This calls for a tried, tested and overdue approach to be adopted – opt-out HIV testing in the local hospitals. That’s why I’ve written to the Health Secretary to call on the Government to listen to the evidence, fund routine HIV testing in our Emergency Department and protect local people’s health.”

We strongly believe in the importance of opt-out HIV testing (along with testing more people, more often, in more places) is crucial for ending new HIV cases by 2030.

"We need to redouble our efforts to end new cases of HIV," says our Campaigns Director, Richard Angell.

"Get it right and we could be the first country in the world to end new HIV transmissions. A crucial part of that is increasing HIV testing and we urgently need that to be expanded to places like Liverpool and all other areas with a high prevalence of HIV."

Testing blood for HIV when it's taken in emergency departments is just good for individuals, preventing onward transmission and for saving the NHS money.

MP calls for HIV testing to become standard in A&E departments Dan Carden MP has written to Rishi Sunak’s recently appointed Health Secretary, Steve Barclay

Will you tomorrow for ?

Wearing something read and wearing a red ribbon shows support for people living with or impacted by We also wear it to remember those we've lost to the virus over the past 40 years.

HIV in England: Addressing areas of unmet need | Terrence Higgins Trust Our new report shines a light on ongoing unmet need within HIV testing, data collection, stigma and retention in care.

Therese Coffey is leaving the UK vulnerable to monkeypox | Ceri Smith The vaccination programme for gay and bis*xual men is simply not enough to protect against future outbreaks, says Ceri Smith of the Terrence Higgins Trust