Publish date: 1 December 2025
In the lead up to World AIDS Day 2025, the emergency department blood testing programme at Tameside Hospital has been helping more people access life-saving treatment and support for HIV and other viral infections.
Nine months on from its launch in March 2025, 52 people in Tameside and Glossop have received a new diagnosis of HIV or viral hepatitis through the programme.
On top of this, the programme has also identified people who had previously been diagnosed with HIV or hepatitis, but had lost touch with health services, giving them another chance to access treatment and support.
Anyone aged 16 or over who attends the hospital’s emergency department and requires a routine blood test is now automatically tested for HIV, as well as viral hepatitis, unless they choose to opt out. If the test comes back positive, then they are offered treatment and referred to specialist support services.
This opt-out approach, based in the hospital’s emergency department, allows the programme to cast a wide net, reaching people who may not know they are at risk or may not feel comfortable visiting a sexual health clinic for testing.
Early detection of HIV is crucial. People who are diagnosed early can start treatment promptly, which allows them to live a long and healthy life while preventing the virus from being passed on to others.
This is because the current generation of anti-HIV medicines, when taken consistently, can reduce the amount of virus in the blood to such a low level that it can no longer be detected. Many studies have proven that people with undetectable levels of HIV cannot sexually transmit the virus to others.
Regular testing also helps reduce stigma around HIV, promotes awareness, and ensures that those at risk receive the necessary support and care.
Dilraj Sandher, Chief Medical Officer at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"Routine, opt-out testing in our emergency department has already had a profound impact on many lives.
“Through early detection, we can help prevent the long-term ill-health effects of HIV and make a real difference to the health of our community."
As well as Tameside Hospital, the testing programme is live across eight other emergency departments across Greater Manchester. It is part of Manchester’s Fast Track City commitments to ending new transmissions of HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis by 2030.
This comes as communities mark World AIDS Day on 1 December. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by HIV and mourning those who died from the condition.
Manchester-based charity George House Trust is holding an outreach stand in the Tameside One shopping centre from 10am to 2pm on Monday 1 December to help raise awareness in the local community. There will also be a vigil taking place that same evening in Sackville Gardens in Manchester city centre from 4pm.
Anyone can take a free, confidential HIV test. For more information, visit George House Trust or PaSH Partnership.
There are many effective ways to prevent or reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Visit NHS.UK to find out about the best way to reduce your risk.
