University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has expanded its commitment to early diagnosis and improved public health with the introduction of opt‑out HIV screening in the Emergency Department at Worthing Hospital.
The move builds on the success of the 2022 pilot at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, one of the first Emergency Departments in England to introduce routine opt‑out HIV testing. Since its launch, the Brighton programme has made 26 new HIV diagnoses, enabling those patients to begin treatment sooner.
Nationally, the impact of opt‑out screening has been significant. Eighty six Emergency Departments across England are now taking part, carrying out more than 5.2 million HIV tests and identifying over 10,700 new diagnoses to date. The programme aims to find infections earlier, reduce transmission, and tackle inequalities in access to testing and treatment.
What this means for patients at Worthing A&E
From 16 March, everyone aged 16 or over who needs a blood test for any reason while attending Worthing’s Emergency Department will automatically receive an HIV test.
This screening is opt‑out, so patients do not need to request the test and can decline if they choose. National guidance recommends this approach as one of the most effective ways to diagnose HIV early—often before symptoms develop—allowing people to start treatment promptly and improving long‑term health outcomes.
Supporting better public health through early diagnosis
Early diagnosis remains one of the most powerful tools in improving outcomes for people living with HIV. Routine testing in Emergency Departments helps reach individuals who might not otherwise access sexual health or community testing services, helping reduce health inequalities.
By joining the national programme, Worthing Hospital is helping widen access to life‑saving early diagnosis across West Sussex, further strengthening the region’s public health efforts.