Elton John launches HIV screening at King's College Hospital

Anne Aslett with Elton John and David Furnish at King's College Hospital
Rex
Alistair Foster24 May 2016

Patients at King’s College Hospital who have blood tests will now be routinely screened for HIV thanks to the Elton John Aids Foundation.

The 69-year-old singer, inset, visited the hospital in Camberwell today to launch an initiative that aims to test 34,000 Londoners in its first 12 months.

Lambeth and Southwark are recognised as having the highest HIV prevalence rates in the UK.

All patients admitted to the emergency department of King’s College Hospital who require blood tests will now be automatically tested for HIV — although they will have the choice to opt out.

Sir Elton was at the hospital in 1993 to open the Caldecot Centre which treats people with HIV.

He said: “At the time, there was so little that could be done to prevent the sickness and death caused by HIV/Aids … It was heartbreaking.

"So it’s incredible to think that today King’s can introduce something which not only stops people becoming sick needlessly, it prevents new infections and saves precious resources.”

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