EVERY patient who ends up in Great Western Hospital's Emergency Department will now be asked to take an HIV test.

Announced on World AIDS Day, the Swindon hospital has launched routine HIV testing in A&E. Patients will be allowed to opt out of this, if they wish.

A GWH spokesman said: "The prevalence of HIV in Swindon is now at a level where routine testing in ED is recommended by national guidelines.

"Patients diagnosed at early stage of HIV infection have a normal life expectancy due to the excellent treatments available.

"A patient living with HIV on effective treatment, with an undetectable virus in the blood cannot pass HIV on.

"The aim is to reduce new HIV diagnosis by 80 per cent by 2025."

Since 1988, December 1 has been used to raise awareness of HIV, show support for people living with it, and commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. A red ribbon symbolises the campaign.

More than 105,000 people are living with HIV in the UK, and 4,139 people are diagnosed with it each year. Globally, there are an estimated 38 million people who have the virus. 

For more information, visit www.worldaidsday.org