Motion: Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland Launches Only Scotland-wide Postal HIV Testing Service

Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland Launches Only Scotland-wide Postal HIV Testing Service

Lodged by Drew Smith Standard Motion 29 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the introduction of a Scotland-wide postal HIV testing scheme provided by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland; notes that it has been launched to coincide with the second annual European HIV Testing Week; understands that Fastest Direct Scotland is available free of charge to anyone with a Scottish postcode and that people wanting to test will be able to place an order at tht.org.uk/fastest and receive an HIV test kit delivered to their door; understands that the process involves a simple finger-prick blood test, which is then posted in a pre-paid envelope to the laboratory for testing; further understands that, in June 2014, there were an estimated 5,881 people living with HIV in Scotland, one in five of whom remain undiagnosed; believes that undiagnosed infection is widely recognised as a key factor driving the HIV epidemic, as someone who remains undiagnosed is much more likely to pass on the virus unwittingly than someone who has tested and is on treatment, and hopes that this project encourages anyone who has not tested before, or perhaps has not tested in some time, to take advantage of the new service and be sure of their HIV status.

Supporters (29)