Skip to main content
Loading…

Chamber and committees

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary HIV and Hepatitis Testing First

  • Submitted by: Kevin Stewart, Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 October 2025
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-19288

That the Parliament welcomes the news that patients treated in Accident and Emergency (A&E) in Aberdeen will be the first in Scotland to be routinely offered tests for HIV as well as hepatitis B and C; notes that the initiative follows a successful three-month trial at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 2024, which was funded by the Scottish Government, where around 4,500 people were tested and one-in-180 was found to carry previously undiagnosed blood-borne viruses, which was a higher prevalence than was expected; understands that the tests will be carried out on people who already need a blood test anyway, with the option to opt-out, resulting in no additional time spent in the emergency department or increased waits for patients; further understands that this initiative will be funded by the Scottish Government until the end of March 2027, when it will be reviewed; believes that early diagnosis of blood-borne viruses will reduce transmission rates and improve clinical outcomes for those affected, and hopes that this initiative, which will be rolled out in the Lothian and Glasgow areas by March 2026, will aid the Scottish Government’s drive to eliminate hepatitis C, end new transmissions of HIV and offer treatment to people living with hepatitis B.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Stephanie Callaghan, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Paul McLennan, Marie McNair, Audrey Nicoll, Paul Sweeney, Evelyn Tweed, Mercedes Villalba, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle