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<p>As part of the HIV Action Plan, we are committed to ensuring adequate support for
those diagnosed and living with HIV. The most recent monitoring and evaluation report
of the HIV Action Plan, published by the UK Health Security Agency, shows that in
2022, 76% of adults first diagnosed with HIV in England were linked to HIV care within
two weeks, 87% within one month, and 93% within three months. This is an improvement
compared to 2019.</p><p>NHS England’s specification for adult HIV services states
that these services must have a policy describing how they aim to ensure retention
in care, and re-engage those lost to care. A subgroup, Retention and Re-engagement
in Care Task and Finish Group, of the HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group
(ISG) is providing advice on increasing the number of people retained and re-engaged
in care and receiving effective medical care, which will be considered by the ISG
in due course.</p><p>As part of the HIV Action Plan, the NHS England HIV opt-out testing
programme in emergency departments has identified 384 people previously diagnosed
with HIV but who disengaged from care in the first 21 months, providing opportunities
to re-engage those individuals in care. Given its success, the Department has recently
committed an additional £20 million for new research, which will involve an expansion
and evaluation of the programme in 47 additional emergency departments in local areas
with high HIV prevalence, across England.</p>
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