Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has joined forces with Northamptonshire County Council, local HIV support charity SOLAR and other local organisations to promote HIV Testing Week.

National HIV Testing Week, which takes place between 22 and 29 November 2013, is an initiative led by HIV Prevention England and Public Health England. Following the success of last year’s campaign it is also taking place across Europe. World AIDS Day also takes place on 1^st December 2013.

The aim of HIV testing week is:

• To increase testing among the most at-risk populations acrossEngland
• To increase awareness and acceptability of HIV testing among these groups
• To increase access to HIV testing in both community and statutory settings in order to improve early diagnosis and treatment of HIV (and reduce ongoing transmission) among those most at risk.

 Public Health Englandwill also be publishing the report HIV In The UK 2013 on Tuesday 19^th November to mark HIV Testing Week.

What’s happening during HIV Testing Week and World AIDS Day?

• Throughout HIV Testing Week, NHFT will be offering same-day HIV testing at our main sites at the Ashwood Centre, (St Mary’s Hospital, London Road), Kettering, and at the GU Clinic at Northampton General Hospital.
• Information and outreach at colleges in Northamptonshire
• Information about HIV testing and safe sex available at the Boston Clipper gay bar in Northampton, provided by FAN Northants, a local events and social group for gay people in Northamptonshire.

For more information including clinic opening times, contact details and support groups, go to www.nhft.nhs.uk/hiv

If you are on twitter you can follow @startswith_me and hashtag - #hivtestweek for the national campaign and @NHFTNHS for the local campaign.