Newham health professionals get HIV tested to promote early screenings awareness
Left to right: Newham GP and clinical lead for HIV Dr James Stevenson, Cllr Clive Furness, Director of partnerships and governance Satbinder Sanghera. - Credit: Newham CCG
GPs and health professionals were joined by a Newham councillor for a workplace HIV screening session to raise awareness of early testing.
Dr James Stevenson, clinical lead for HIV for Newham CCG, was one of 28 people screened to mark the launch of a year-long programme aimed at increasing screening rates in Newham and tackling the disease’s stigma.
HIV prevalance in the borough is high and 40 per cent of diagnoses are classified as ‘late’, meaning those patients are more likely to have a severely damaged immune system.
People diagnosed late are 10 times more likely to die within a year of diagnosis.
Dr Stevenson said: “We know that screening and testing early is key to supporting patients to manage HIV as a long-term condition.
You may also want to watch:
“In Newham we want to ensure we don’t miss opportunities to test for HIV when patients arrive at the surgery with tell-tale signs.
“As well as supporting the NHS to manage demand and the impact of late diagnosis on services, screening also helps prevent the spread of HIV.”
Most Read
- 1 Traffic cameras installed to catch Newham drivers who ignore road signs
- 2 Man arrested after car smashes into house in Maryland
- 3 Man arrested in east London for terrorist offences
- 4 Parking charges, Covid, unneutered cats and driving into London
- 5 Foodbank offering lifeline to foreign students left destitute by pandemic
- 6 East Ham barber disappointed by Covid-19 lockdown easing roadmap
- 7 Council loses court action against Barclays Bank
- 8 Person found dead on tracks at Plaistow Underground station
- 9 East Ham money laundering suspect arrested in people smuggling probe
- 10 Plans for special needs hub at Little Ilford School given green light
Cllr Furness added: “This screening session provided a valuable opportunity to find out more about HIV in the borough and the importance of screening before people have further voluntary tests.
“This approach will enable us to detect newly infected people and reduce transmission to others.”