Trust works towards HIV Action Plan goal to end new cases by 2030 with 67 diagnosed via opt-out testing

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is marking World AIDS Day by highlighting major progress in HIV detection through the NHS Blood-Borne Virus (BBV) Opt-out Testing Programme, supporting the Government’s goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.

Since April 2022, the Trust has completed 230,872 HIV tests via opt-out screening in its Emergency Departments (ED) at both Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (98,281 tests) and West Middlesex University Hospital (132,591 tests). In total, clinicians have carried out 651,473 BBV tests Trust-wide, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

This approach has led to 67 new HIV diagnoses that would have otherwise been missed or diagnosed at a later, more serious stage. Early diagnosis means patients can start treatment sooner, reducing the risk of onward transmission. The programme has also improved detection of viral hepatitis, enabling patients to access life-saving treatment and prevent long-term liver damage.

Marta Boffito, Clinical Director for HIV, Sexual and Gender Health and Dermatology, shares “Our Trust has a proud, long history in HIV innovation and care and we continue to work hard across our hospitals and community sites to reach the Government's ambition of zero new HIV cases by 2030. 

“Opt-out testing in Emergency Departments is a powerful tool in ensuring that we make the most of every contact with patients. By routinely offering HIV tests, we are not only detecting cases that might otherwise go unnoticed and linking people into care earlier, but we are also reducing the stigma and normalising HIV testing.”

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has a long-established global reputation for excellence in HIV care. This began in 1988 with the opening of the Kobler Clinic by Diana, Princess of Wales; the first NHS service dedicated specifically to HIV. Thirty-seven years later, it is now the largest specialist HIV unit in Europe, caring for approximately 5,000 patients.

Since then, the Trust continues to lead in HIV innovation through pioneering digital solutions. First piloted in the Kobler Clinic in 2018, Klick is an app-based care pathway that allows patients to book and reschedule appointments, request medication, and receive messages from healthcare professionals. To date, 6650 patients across the Kobler and Dean Street clinics have registered for Klick, with more than 2,500 monthly users.

The Trust remains committed to working with public-health partners, community organisations, and NHS leaders to expand testing and reduce stigma. Together, we aim to support everyone with an HIV diagnosis through long-term treatment and work towards the shared goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Key milestones in HIV care and treatment

• 1988 – Kobler Clinic at St Stephen’s Centre opened by Diana, Princess of Wales.
• 1990 – Early clinical trials begin at St Stephen’s Centre, contributing to breakthroughs in dual-therapy antiviral treatment.
• 2000 – Opt-out HIV testing introduced for all pregnant women, leading to the near-elimination of mother-to-child transmission in subsequent years.
• 2009 – 56 Dean Street in Soho opens.
• 2011 – 56 Dean Street earns a Guinness World Record for the most HIV tests performed in one location on World AIDS Day at G-A-Y Bar in Soho.
• 2014 – Dean Street Express opens, becoming the world’s first sexual-health clinic with an onsite Infinity machine, enabling results within six hours.
• 2016 – 10 Hammersmith Broadway, a state-of-the-art sexual-health facility, opens providing expert HIV care.
• 2017 – PrEP Impact Trial begins—one of the world’s largest trials into PrEP use in England.
• 2018 – Klick launched as a pilot (official rollout in 2020).
• 2019 – PrEP Impact Trial expands from 13,000 to 26,000 participants due to high demand.
• 2020 – UK Government announces PrEP will be freely available to anyone at risk; Dean Street becomes the UK’s largest provider.
• 2022 – Opt-out blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C rolled out across hospitals in England.