Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to expand the emergency department bloodborne virus opt-out testing programme to (a) King’s Mill Hospital, (b) Lincoln County Hospital, (c) Pilgrim Hospital and (d) other sites in the East Midlands.

The Emergency Department opt-out testing programme will continue to test individuals for bloodborne viruses, including HIV and viral hepatitis, in line with committed funding plans.

None of the funding already committed has been removed from sites offering opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. NHS England is currently reviewing its budgetary position, with a view to determining whether funding can be made available to extend the provision of opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. In particular, NHS England is reviewing this for sites whose committed funding will end during 2025.