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HIV testing

Story from nhs.uk

"HIV testing"

About: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Disappointing to hear that the Trust has decided to stop funding postal hiv tests. If only the GUM facilities had the capacity and availability to deal with the volume of clients!

As a city with over 1 million residents I can't see how the Trust think that this small saving is going to be cost effective. Surely it's better that people test themselves than fail to test themselves. What a narrow and small minded view for a short term financial gain which will cost ten fold in the future on treatment rather than prevention.

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Responses

Response from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 7 years ago
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 03/03/2017 at 16:49
Published on nhs.uk on 04/03/2017 at 02:44

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the HIV postal testing service provided by the Umbrella Sexual Health Service (part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust). Your comments were forwarded to the senior team responsible for this service, they have provided this response:

Testing for HIV forms one of the core objectives of the Umbrella sexual health service and as part of this STI self-sampling kits are freely available to Birmingham and Solihull residents aged 16 or over.

Self-sampling kits can be ordered online at www.umbrellahealth.co.uk for delivery direct to your home address or to an Umbrella pharmacist for collection.

Umbrella is committed to reducing rates of late diagnosis of HIV and has put in place a series of robust measures to increase opportunities for testing both within its clinics, at GP surgeries, through pharmacies and through its website.

We hope this resolves your concerns, if you need further advice or information please make contact via the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). PALS are here to help and can be contacted by phone 0121 371 4400, by email PALS@uhb.nhs.uk, via the hospital website www.uhb.nhs.uk/pals-form or in person by dropping in between 9am – 5pm (Mon-Fri) to the PALS office located near the Information Desk in the main entrance of the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

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