Dr Ranj for National HIV Testing Week

Monday 1 to Sunday 7 February is National HIV Testing Week

Due to the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, National HIV Testing Week is a little different this year. However, with most of us staying at home, it’s the perfect opportunity to use this extra time and get tested. You can order a free HIV postal testing kit via freetesting.hiv.

National HIV Testing Week comes just two months after the National HIV Commission published its recommendations on how to end new HIV transmissions by 2030. The key message from the Commission is ‘test, test, test’ – you can read more about how and where HIV testing this needs to happen.

We’ve got a packed week of events that are open to all and free to attend:

Monday 1 February: 7pm - 8:15pm

Road to Zero: How can Greens make zero HIV transmissions by 2030 a reality?

  • Daniel Laycock (Chair), LGBTIQA+ Greens
  • Deborah Gold, Chief Executive, National AIDS Trust
  • Ian Green, Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust
  • Natalie Bennett, Green peer

Open to all – register in advance.

Tuesday 2 February: 6-7:30pm

HIV Prevention England: Normalising HIV Testing in A&E

As we look ahead to ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 in England, we need to scale up testing, including in Emergency Departments (ED) and Primary Care. Both NICE guidelines and Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) state that in areas of high prevalence, HIV testing should be implemented alongside routine blood tests.

Opt-out ED testing offers a cost-effective route to testing every at-risk individual, regardless of historically defined target characteristics, such as sexuality or ethnicity, while preventing missed opportunities to diagnose HIV and stopping forward transmissions.

  • Dame Inga Beale (Chair), Chair of HIV Commission
  • Dr Laura Water, Chair, British HIV Association
  • Dr Aneesha Noonan, NHS England & NHS Improvement Medical Directorate – London Region and a practising GP
  • Colleagues from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust who are currently facilitating a ED testing project.

Open to all – register in advance.

Wednesday 3rd February: 6-7:15pm

Terrence Higgins Trust and LGBT Labour: Winning the decade: How can Labour make the HIV Commission's aim to end new HIV transmissions by 2030 a reality?

  • Tom Rutland (Chair) National Secretary LGBT Labour
  • Wes Streeting MP HIV Commissioner
  • Alex Norris MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health
  • Cllr Steve Hughes, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Rossendale Borough Council
  • Ian Green, Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust

Open to all – register in advance.

Open to all

Thursday 4 February: 5-6pm

Big Tent Ideas, Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor and Terrence Higgins Trust: Normalise testing: Can England diagnose everyone living with HIV?

  • Jo Churchill MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
  • Reverend Jide Macaulay, Founder and CEO of House of Rainbow CIC
  • Ian Green, Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust
  • Dr Sean Perera, Associate Medical Director – Sexual Health, Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor

Open to all – register in advance.

Friday 5 February: 12:30-1:45pm

HIV Fringe event at Labour Local Government Association conference: Can local authorities lead the way in the goal to end new cases of HIV by 2030?

  • Alex Norris MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health
  • Cllr Bev Craig, Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing & LGBT Lead, Manchester City Council
  • Cllr Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities & Public Health. Bristol City Council
  • Cllr Philip Normal, Mayor, London Borough of Lambeth
  • Jonathan McShane, Chair, Terrence Higgins Trust
  • Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Cabinet Member for Health, Birmingham City Council (Chair)

Open to all – register in advance.

Friday 5 February: 7-8pm

Terrence Higgins Trust and LGBT+ Conservatives: How can the Conservatives end new HIV transmissions by 2030?

  • Elliot Colburn MP (Chair)
  • Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor and London Assembly Member
  • Druv Rajkoomar, LGBT+ Conservatives BAME Rep
  • Caroline Noakes MP, Chair Women and Equalities Select Committee
  • Cllr Peter Golds
  • Steve Brine MP, HIV Commissioner
  • Ian Green, Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust

Special video message from Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Open to all – register in advance.

Fingers at the ready and get social

During National HIV Testing Week we’re encouraging everyone to give HIV the finger on social media. Share your best finger photos using #HIVTestWeek and tag @thtorguk @startswith_me.