Cov has highest rate of HIV diagnoses in the West Midlands

COVENTRY is having to expand its sexual health and HIV testing services in the city to combat having the highest HIV prevalence in the West Midlands.

More than half of new HIV cases in Coventry are being caught late making the risk of death 10 times higher than for those diagnosed early on.

Figures from Public Health England show that there were 89 new HIV diagnoses in the city for people aged 15 and older between the years 2015-17.

Of these diagnoses, 49 were late - 55.1 per cent meaning the person’s immune system had already started to become damaged.

Late diagnoses in Coventry have only been higher once, in 2009-11 56.3 per cent - when modern records began.

The figures come as a council report revealed Coventry has the highest HIV prevalence in the West Midlands.

The comment was made in the council’s end of year performance report.

It added ‘the city is expanding its sexual health and HIV testing services in pharmacies, online, GP practices and the hospital’ to combat the issue.

According to Public Health England, late diagnoses mean a person’s chance of death is 10 times greater than those whose HIV is caught early on, and it is the most important predictor of death among those with the virus.

Debbie Laycock, head of policy and parliamentary affairs at The Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Sexual health services remain a key way for many people to take an HIV test.

“That’s why we are deeply concerned about cuts to public health budgets as our sexual health services are already stretched to breaking point.

“If we don’t invest in these vital services then all of the progress we’ve made on HIV could be jeopardised.

“If you have HIV, the sooner you start treatment, the better it is for your health.”