The Grey Healthcare Group Award for Excellence in Health Improvement and Education

Sponsored by

Winner

Think Test for HIV

Bristol-Myers Squibb in association with Mash Health

Summary of work

Late diagnosis of HIV remains an issue in the UK, affecting morbidity and mortality. While guidelines set out criteria for testing outside the genitourinary medicine (GUM) setting, testing in other specialties remains low. 

We worked with Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop a programme designed to increase HIV testing in non-GUM Secondary Care settings. In the 10 months since launch, the ‘Think Test for HIV’ initiative has been adopted in more than 38 hospitals. In one hospital, this has already resulted in a 60 per cent increase in HIV testing and a 13 per cent increase in early diagnosis – directly impacting on patients’ lives.

 

 

Executive summary as submitted

Judges’ comments

"It was simple, it measured the impact and it provided the means to benchmark individual units. Even in an area we thought we had sorted, we’ve learnt there is still a need to explore further."