Thousands of patients going to St George’s, Epsom and St Helier’s emergency departments have been tested for HIV in the past year.

This is thanks to a pioneering scheme that helps people with the virus start treatment more quickly.

All three hospitals offer the opt-out testing – and carried out nearly 130,000 checks between April 2022 and September 2023.

This helped 33 people to receive effective early treatment, and a further 19 previously diagnosed patients to be re-engaged in care.