The Government’s plan to end new HIV transmissions in England by 2030 is “within reach,” the Health Secretary said on World Aids Day on Monday. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) outlined a new action plan backed by £170 million to re-engage people who have left HIV care, expand testing, and address stigma.
Funding Supports Expanded Testing
The action plan focuses on identifying undiagnosed infections and returning people to treatment. DHSC said it will prioritise support for about 5,000 people living with HIV who are no longer in care due to factors such as mental health challenges, addiction, poverty or fear of judgement.
The plan introduces opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments during routine blood tests. The programme will run in high-prevalence areas including London and Manchester, aiming to reach thousands who may not attend sexual health clinics. Hospital staff in participating trusts will receive anti-stigma training to ensure patients feel safe accessing care.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the plan demonstrates progress toward the 2030 goal. “I promised to end HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and we are making this a reality thanks to our action plan, with a groundbreaking new HIV prevention programme, at-home tests made available through the NHS app, and delivering opt-out testing in emergency departments,” he said.
New Digital Access to Home Testing
A £5 million trial, announced Sunday, will allow at-risk patients to order home HIV test kits through the NHS App. Users will be able to receive results securely and contact their GP or a sexual health clinic from their phone.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the digital service offers an important option for people reluctant to visit clinics. “The new digital service will offer a discreet route for those anxious about their sexual health to get tested without visiting a clinic,” he said. He added that re-engaging patients early helps ensure treatment is most effective and reduces the risk of onward transmission.
Streeting said advances in treatment have transformed outcomes for those living with HIV. “Today, people living with HIV can enjoy full, healthy lives and can’t pass the virus on to others,” he said. “Ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 is ambitious and this government is determined to make it happen.”
Community Groups Welcome Approach
Advocacy organisations responded positively to the renewed funding commitment. Anne Aslett, chief executive of the Elton John Aids Foundation, said the action plan marks a significant step. She noted that more than 90% of people newly diagnosed in emergency departments had never been tested for HIV before, based on earlier pilot programmes.
Aslett said targeted investment in testing can save lives, but she emphasised the need for continued support for prevention measures such as wider access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). “With up to 12,000 people living with HIV currently out of care, the £9 million investment in retention is crucial for keeping people healthy and stopping onward transmission,” she said. “But without bold investment in prevention, including making PrEP widely accessible to everyone who needs it, ending new infections will remain out of reach.”
The Government said the re-engagement programme will be designed to reach people where the epidemic continues to grow, ensuring no group is left without access to treatment. Officials said the combined efforts of expanded testing, digital services and targeted funding represent the most comprehensive approach to date.
Streeting said the Government will work with partners across the health system to deliver the plan. “Thanks to the work of determined campaigners across our country, ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 a history making, world changing goal is within reach,” he said. “This government will now put its shoulder to the wheel to deliver this change.”
The DHSC said progress will continue to be monitored through data collected from emergency departments, community testing and home kit results. The next update on national HIV transmission figures is expected in early 2026.
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