HIV: Testing and Medical Care

Lord Black of Brentwood Excerpts

Monday 20th October 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Black of Brentwood]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to increase HIV testing rates; and whether they will establish and invest in a programme to engage with the estimated 12,000 people living with HIV who do not receive medical care.

[Lord Black of Brentwood (Con)]

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and I declare my interest as a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, HIV testing rates in sexual health services increased last year by 3%. After nearly a decade of cuts, we increased the public health grant to over £3.8 billion in 2025-26, which funds HIV testing and sexual health services. This year we invested £27 million in HIV opt-out A&E testing, identifying undiagnosed and untreated HIV and increasing re-engagement in HIV care. The new HIV action plan, which will be out before the end of the year, will include HIV testing and care actions.

[Lord Black of Brentwood (Con)]

My Lords, while progress is greatly welcome—I applaud the Government’s efforts and commitment in this area—does the Minister agree that, unless we move much more quickly, we have no chance of meeting the target of eliminating new infections by 2030? Last year, there were still over 3,000 new diagnoses—a stubbornly high figure—while HIV rates among black African heterosexual men are, in fact, increasing and there are up to 12,000 individuals lost to care; they are aware that they have the virus but are not accessing life-saving drugs that would stop them passing it on. Will the Government act in two very important areas to try to bring this infection rate down? The first is to make sure that PrEP is available outside sexual health clinics and the second is to ensure there is a dedicated team of caseworkers in every HIV clinic who are laser-focused on finding those who are lost to care and getting them back in treatment.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I will certainly take those very helpful proposals back to the department. As the noble Lord acknowledged, we are developing the plan, which must be ambitious. If it not, exactly as he says, we will not meet what I think is a very correct target. I am sure the noble Lord welcomed the news on 17 October of the NICE publication of a recommendation on the use of cabotegravir, an injectable option for those who cannot have oral PrEP. It is important to look at the reasons why people do not access care and treatment and to find solutions, rather than leaving them as they are.