We have increased access to testing and treatment services in the city – everyone seeking an appointment to be seen at the GUM clinic is offered an appointment to be seen within 48 hours. The clinic also offers walk-in appointments, as does the Brighton Station Health Centre, seven days per week. Reducing the time between infection and diagnosis and treatment will continue to reduce the overall incidence and prevalence of infections. Brighton & Hove exceeded the chlamydia screening target for 2011/12 achieving 39% coverage (16,583 people screened) of the under-25 population with a positivity rate of 5.6%. This placed us in the top 20 performing areas.
We have increased opportunities to test for HIV across the City, introducing opt out HIV testing in a variety of settings including registration at Primary Care, termination of pregnancy and substance misuse services to reduce late diagnosis.