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Rise in HIV testing for pop-up sexual health van

BBC Blue coloured van that has a sexual health sticker a banner that says let's get to zero and Kate Rabjohns speaking to a man. They are standing in front of a table with different leaflets. BBC
The pop-up van visits communities in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire once a week

A pop-up sexual health clinic has seen an increase in the number of new people coming forward to get tested for HIV.

The Florey Clinic van has been travelling around Berkshire since July, offering NHS checks for sexually transmitted infections (STI).

About 75 per cent of people seen since the service began had never been tested before, according to the team.

The NHS hopes to end new HIV transmissions in England by 2030.

What is HIV?

  • HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the immunodeficiency is the weakening of the immune system by the virus
  • If untreated it can lead to late-stage HIV or Aids, the name for a collection of illnesses caused by the virus
  • Medication helping those with HIV to live long, healthy lives has been available for decades
  • Modern medication reduces the viral load to undetectable levels, meaning someone can't pass on HIV and their health is protected

Sources: Terrence Higgins Trust & NHS

BBC News Jack is in a dark room and his silhouette is shown beside a ring light BBC News
Jack says he "feels dirty" when people fear him for being HIV positive

Jack (not his real name) discovered he was HIV positive in his mid-thirties.

The 51-year-old from Berkshire said he still faced stigma, 17 years later.

“I have known people to be beaten up because of their HIV, let alone about being gay, so you have two things to deal with," he said.

Jack told the BBC having HIV had changed his relationships.

“You have the problem of being older and also trying to tell somebody you [have] HIV," he said.

Aurora has mid length light brown hair, she's wearing a white floral dress that has blue roses and a black bag with a strap along her shoulder.
Aurora says safe sex is important

Kate Rabjohns, a sexual health clinical nurse specialist, travels around with the Florey Clinic and said she wanted to help normalise sexual health.

She said: “We wanted to move away from the whole idea that sexual health is something to be embarrassed about gone are the days that it is hidden at the back of the hospital.”

The van aims to reach people like Aurora (not her real name) who just happened to be passing by.

She said, in no time at all, she was sat taking a blood test.

“I have many friends who are sex positive and it is good to know that they can get advice, testing and everything,” she said.

“I was feeling very nervous when I went there first time but they are good, they don’t judge you, they put your mind at ease.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.

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