Writing to Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, a cross-party group of 21 MPs and MSPs from Glasgow and Edinburgh have said an urgent scale-up of HIV testing is needed if the government is to meet its goal of ending new cases by 2030.

The politicians have hailed the opt-out approach to HIV testing, which is being expanded to 89 emergency departments across England, stating that it could help save lives in their constituencies. Signatories include Anas Sarwar MSP, Lorna Slater MSP, Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Sandesh Gulhane MSP, Scottish Labour Shadow Health Minister Paul Sweeney MSP, and Edinburgh South West MP, Dr Scott Arthur.

Opt-out testing is when patients who come into emergency departments are routinely tested for HIV when having blood taken unless they ask not to be. In London, Brighton, Manchester and Blackpool, more than 4,000 people with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C were found through this approach in only 18 months, including 934 people who were living with undiagnosed HIV or had been disengaged from HIV care

On World AIDS Day last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a £27 million investment in extending the programme across English hospitals, with 89 A&Es now set to take part. The two letters call for the Scottish Government to invest in the same approach in Glasgow and Edinburgh, which have a high prevalence of HIV.

The letters come as campaigners warn that Scotland’s 2030 goal could be in jeopardy, with HIV testing rates still not back to pre-COVID levels, an estimated 500 people living with undiagnosed HIV in Scotland and a growing number of people who are diagnosed but are not accessing life-saving treatment. Investment in HIV testing will be crucial to getting Scotland on track to ending the epidemic within the decade. 

Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and MSP for Glasgow, said:

'Routine HIV and hepatitis testing in A&Es has proven to be a game-changer. In cities like Manchester, London and Blackpool, opt-out BBV testing has been saving lives, saving money and relieving pressure on the health service. That's why in December, the UK Labour government invested £27 million to extend and expand the approach to 89 hospitals across England. 

'We have an ambitious target to end new HIV cases in Scotland by 2030 but we won't get there by chance. With only five years left to meet our goal, the Scottish Government must get serious and ramp up testing across the country, starting with emergency departments in areas with a high HIV prevalence, including my city of Glasgow.'

Barry Whitley, who was diagnosed with HIV through opt-out HIV testing in Brighton in December 2023, said:

'Opt-out HIV testing saved my life. I was lucky to live in Brighton, where my local A&E has funding to do this type of routine testing. I wouldn’t have thought to test for HIV and initially my GP didn’t pick up on my symptoms, so it took me getting really sick and my partner taking me to hospital before I was tested. As soon as I was diagnosed, I was able to access the most incredible care from the Lawson Unit at Royal Sussex County Hospital and now I am back to living a healthy, happy life. I am so glad that Terrence Higgins Trust are campaigning for the Scottish government to invest in opt-out HIV testing in Glasgow and Edinburgh, so that people who don’t know they are living with HIV in those cities can be diagnosed and get the treatment they need.'
 
Paul Sweeney, MSP for the Glasgow region, said:

'Opt-out HIV testing is a tried and tested approach, which has been an incredible success A&Es in areas with a high HIV prevalence. It is not just finding people living with undiagnosed HIV; it is tackling health inequalities, and it is saving the NHS money. That’s why last year Prime Minister Keir Starmer invested £27 million to extend this approach to 89 A&Es across England. 

'Every day that A&E opt-out HIV testing is not on offer in Scotland, we are missing opportunities to find and support people living with HIV. If the Scottish Government is to achieve our shared goal of ending new cases of HIV, we have to scale up HIV testing in our cities with a high HIV prevalence. It’s time the government funded this game-changing intervention so that people living with undiagnosed HIV in Glasgow and Edinburgh can access the treatment and support they need.'

Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, said:

'We cannot afford further delay from the Scottish Government on this key opportunity to find people living with undiagnosed HIV, and get them on life-saving treatment. Scotland is now lagging behind England in its HIV response, jeopardising our chances of success towards ending new cases of HIV by 2030.'

Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust said:

'The evidence is clear: everyone who goes to A&E should be routinely tested for HIV. Too many are presenting ill and being treated for their symptoms but not the underlying cause, which too often is undiagnosed HIV or hepatitis. But this can change. It must if Scotland is to be successful in ending new cases of HIV by 2030.

'It’s incredibly welcome that politicians from different parties have joined our calls for the Scottish Government to fund this game-changing opt-out testing approach in Glasgow’s and Edinburgh’s hospitals.

'Scotland could be the first country in the world to end new cases of HIV, securing the nation’s position as a global leader in public health. This will only happen with urgent action to find and support everyone living with HIV. If the Scottish Government is serious about its 2030 goal, it must match ambition with action and investment to roll out emergency department opt-out testing.'

Grant Sugden, Chief Executive at Waverley Care, said:

'We strongly welcome this call from politicians to invest in opt-out HIV testing in Scotland’s hospital emergency departments. While Scotland has made great strides toward ending new HIV transmission, we are still falling short when it comes to testing.

'The evidence from England is clear—opt-out testing in emergency departments is a game-changer. It has helped diagnose hundreds of people living with HIV and other blood-borne viruses, ensuring they can access life-saving treatment and support.

'People with undiagnosed HIV are at a higher risk of developing serious health issues and unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. By identifying those living with undiagnosed HIV, we can provide the care they need to live long, healthy lives and move closer to our goal of zero new HIV transmission by 2030.'

Chris Murray MP, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Daniel Johnson MSP, Edinburgh Southern
Foysol Choudhury MSP, Lothian Region
Lorna Slater MSP, Lothian Region
Miles Briggs MSP, Lothian Region
Sarah Boyack MSP, Lothian Region
Dr Scott Arthur MP, Edinburgh South West 
Tracy Gilbert MP, Edinburgh North and Leith

Read the full letter:

Anas Sarwar MSP, Glasgow Region
Annie Wells MSP, Glasgow Region
Gordon McKee MP, Glasgow South
John Grady MP, Glasgow East
Martin Rhodes MP, Glasgow North
Maureen Burke MP, Glasgow North East
Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, Glasgow Region
Patrick Harvie MSP, Glasgow Region
Paul Sweeney MSP, Glasgow Region
Pauline McNeill MSP, Glasgow Region
Patricia Ferguson MP, Glasgow West
Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, Glasgow Region
Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, Glasgow South West

Read the full letter: