Free HIV and sexual health checks

A national campaign that encourages people to consider taking an HIV test is running all week and the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s blood borne virus team are offering a free drop in session to test for HIV and other STIs.

HIV Prevention England (HPE) organises and delivers a National HIV Testing Week each year.

Elaine Martin, Assistant Practitioner in Sexual Health Services at the Trust, said: “We have around 420 HIV positive patients that we look after in Blackpool so are aware that there may be cases in the community, some of which may not have been detected because people have not had a test.”

The free, confidential screenings, with no need for an appointment, are at:

Today at 9am-12pm at Connect on Talbot Road or 5pm-8pm at the Flying Handbag; tomorrow at 9.30am-11am at South King Street Surgery and 5pm-8pm at Connect, Talbot Road; Wednesday from 1pm to 4pm at the women’s unit at BVH, Thursday from 9am-3pm St Paul’s Medical Centre and Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm at Layton Medical Centre.