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Introduction

Introduction

In 2024, there were 103,689 people accessing HIV services in England.¹ HIV care has changed significantly over the past two decades with earlier diagnosis and effective, accessible treatment which allow people to live long, healthy lives without risk of onwards transmission of the virus. England now has the ambition to end HIV transmission by 2030. The HIV Action Plan for England 2025-2030 sets out the country’s plan to achieve this through the priorities of Prevent, Test, Treat, Thrive and Collaborate.²

In 2023, Blackpool became a Fast Track City to commit to collaboration, effective treatment and reducing stigma to end the HIV epidemic.³ Knowledge of local diagnosed HIV prevalence and identification of local risk groups can be used to help direct resources for HIV prevention and treatment.

The 2026 Sexual Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Blackpool presents a picture of all sexual health needs and service provision for sexual health in Blackpool and supports the development of the Sexual Health Strategy and Action Plan for Blackpool. This information on HIV in Blackpool should be read in conjunction with the wider joint strategic needs assessment. The numbers related to HIV diagnoses particularly at local authority level can be small and fluctuate year on year, it is therefore important to review trends of data captured across multiple years to understand an accurate picture.

England’s picture:

The overall prevalence of HIV in England was 2.4 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 59 in 2024.
Nationally the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets are being met
It is estimated that 95% of all adults living with HIV in England were diagnosed
95% of adults diagnosed were receiving treatment
98% of adults on treatment were virally suppressed
87% of adults living with HIV in England are estimated to have suppressed viral loads meaning they cannot transmit the virus.¹

Free and effective anti-HIV treatment also known as antiretroviral therapy (ART), alongside expanded testing, partner notification, access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condom use and other forms of prevention have transformed HIV care in the UK. This has meant that HIV has changed from a historically terminal diagnosis to a chronic and manageable condition. People living with HIV in England that are diagnosed promptly and adhere to treatment can expect a near-normal life expectancy.⁴

Risk factors for HIV infection include higher risk sexual behaviours (such as unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and chemsex); belonging to specific population groups including men who have unprotected sex with men, trans women who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, Black Africans, and those in prisons; exposure through sexual partners living with HIV; and additional factors such as previous STIs, occupational exposure, unsafe medical procedures and sexual assault.⁵

Despite progress to end HIV transmission and HIV-related and AIDS deaths, there continues to be inequalities in relation to HIV prevention, care and treatment.² Stigma and structural inequalities encompassing poverty, racism, sexism, contribute to late testing and decisions to not seek treatment following a HIV diagnosis. Inequalities exist and are widening across age, ethnicity, gender identity and route of exposure. Addressing healthcare inequalities is a core part of the new national HIV Action Plan.²

The high prevalence and incidence of HIV in Blackpool shows a continued effort is needed for HIV testing and the importance of high quality services to support people living with HIV. Targeted prevention and wider testing should further identify people who may be living with undiagnosed HIV and reduce late diagnosis. This would also include sexual health promotion with a focus on HIV, with the main outcome being reducing new infections amongst heterosexual people.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend annual testing to people in groups or communities with a high rate of HIV, and more frequently if they are at high risk of exposure (sas noted above) and targeted HIV testing can be considered.⁶ Gay, bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are advised to have an HIV and STI screen at least annually, and every three months if having condomlesss sex with new or casual partners.

Click on the four links below for further information around each area. These links will open a separate PowerBI report. Please note, these reports are currently not interactive.

A Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England (2013) sets out the Government's ambitions for good sexual health and provides evidence, interventions and actions to improve sexual health outcomes. A commitment from the Government for a new sexual and reproductive health framework for England has been made.⁷

Blackpool Sexual health strategy - 2023-2026 – This strategy and associated action plan outlines the strategic direction for the town and reports to the Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Board and BSafe. Blackpool Council commissions sexual health services and works alongside service providers to ensure the best care and outcomes for the residents of Blackpool regarding sexual health.

The joint NICE and UKHSA guideline [NG60] HIV testing: increasing uptake among people who may have undiagnosed HIV (updated September 2025) covers how to increase the uptake of HIV testing in primary and secondary care, specialist sexual health services and the community. It describes how to plan and deliver services that are tailored to the local prevalence of HIV, promote awareness of HIV testing and increase opportunities to offer testing to people who may have undiagnosed HIV.

HIV Action Plan for England, 2025 to 2030 sets out England’s commitment to end new HIV transmission. It has been developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in partnership with UKHSA and NHS England and has five strategic priorities to achieve clear goals and will measure progress through focus on five populations disproportionately affected by HIV. It will be delivered through local and regional HIV Action Plans and by services commissioned by local authorities and integrated care boards.