The UK Prime Minister took a self-test at 10 Downing Street alongside singer and advocate Beverley Knight in a move to promote HIV testing and raise awareness of the condition.
Kier Starmer has become the first UK Prime Minister to take a public HIV test to reduce stigma and encourage others to undergo screening.
The PM took a rapid home test on camera to highlight the start of National HIV Testing Week in England, when members of the public can order a free and confidential home testing kit.
The Prime Minister said, “It’s easy, it is quick [and…] if people test, they will know their status. It is better that people know… because you can then get treatment. “It is really important to do it, and I am pleased to have taken part too.”
Starmer was joined by Beverley Knight and Richard Angell, the chief executive of the HIV and sexual health charity the Terrance Higgins Trust, which runs the annual campaign. Mr Angell explained how a self-test can be done quickly and privately at home to deliver a result within minutes.
“The Prime Minister has made history by becoming the first G7 leader to publicly take an HIV test while in office and has led by example. It’s an important symbol for people who live with HIV, for fighting the stigma, and to let the public know that tests are free, confidential and easy and available for everyone,” said Angell.
Symptoms of HIV can take years to develop so testing is the only way to ensure an early diagnosis. While there is no cure, detecting the virus promptly means it can be managed with free and effective treatments that prevent further transmission. According to government figures, over 5,200 people in the UK are living with undiagnosed HIV.
Preventing late HIV diagnoses is central to the UK’s ambition to eliminate all new cases in the UK by 2030. Wales was the first UK nation to make this commitment and currently offers free home testing kits to residents all year round through the government-led HIV Action Plan.
Despite progress in some areas of the plan, data from the UK Health Security Agency, which monitors infection rates, showed that new HIV cases have been increasing across the UK since 2021. In 2023, 119 people were newly diagnosed in Wales, a 16% increase from the previous year. Nearly one-third of this group tested positive after the virus had already begun to damage the immune system, which the Terrance Higgins Trust described as unacceptable.
Tackling HIV stigma is another key part of the 2023 strategy, which campaigners and public health experts say plays a role in spreading misinformation about the virus and preventing some people from seeking out testing. While some groups are at higher risk, such as men who have sex with men, anyone who has unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex can get HIV. Of the new 2023 cases in Wales, 62% of people identified as straight.
Dr Tamara Duretić, Head of HIV Section at the UK Health Security Agency, said, “HIV can affect anyone, no matter your gender or sexual orientation. It’s good to see HIV Testing Week once again highlighting the hugely important role regular testing plays in helping to prevent new infections, alongside condom use.”
The HIV Action Plan also aims to address the disparities in healthcare across Wales, which some have described as a postcode lottery. In July 2024, The Mirror newspaper reported the story of a man from Bala in North Wales who believed Welsh people with HIV were receiving inferior care to those in England. Gary Tudor-Jones threatened to suspend his HIV treatment unless the Welsh government improved healthcare for those in Wales, especially in rural areas.
In October 2024, Mr Angell said, “The 2030 goal is in jeopardy in Wales without innovation and new resources. The Welsh Government’s own HIV Action Plan highlighted the lack of support services for people living with HIV in Wales. This must be addressed urgently, both to help end the epidemic and ensure people can live well with HIV in Wales.”
Find more information about HIV and getting tested in Wales by visiting Sexual Health Wales, Fast Track Cymru or the Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru.