A groundbreaking £5 million trial, to be unveiled in the government’s HIV Action Plan published on Monday, will see home testing kits ordered at the touch of a button

People across England could soon be able to order HIV tests from their sofa and get results from home in a historic first.

A groundbreaking £5 million trial, to be unveiled in the government’s HIV Action Plan published on Monday, will see home testing kits ordered at the touch of a button through the NHS App. The trial will be initially rolled out in two local authority areas, with the potential to expand nationally.

By moving routine HIV tests to people’s homes, it helps those in rural areas or who can’t easily leave home, or people who face barriers to attending clinics due to stigma.

The Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Because of the tireless work of campaigners, we have come so far when it comes to HIV and tackling the stigma around it.

“The ambitious goal of ending this epidemic and being the first country in the world to do so falls to our generation and to this government. We must not fail”

“Too many people delay getting tested for HIV because of stigma, inconvenience, or simply not knowing where to go – but it’s vital to get tested early when treatment is most effective.

“The NHS App will enable people to get tested from the comfort of their own home, with results delivered securely straight to their phone. It’s healthcare that fits around your life, not the other way around.”

Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “It is transformational to put HIV testing into the NHS App and therefore into everyone’s hands.

“Making HIV testing available in the app will make ordering an HIV test simpler, more discreet and allow us to promote testing to those who may never have tested or haven’t for some time.

“A 24-seven, 365 day-a-year postal HIV testing service in their pocket is an innovation that is long-overdue.”

Earlier this month a report by the Women and Equalities Committee found “alarming” rates of increase in new HIV diagnoses among women and Black and Asian communities.

MPs cited a concerning drop in testing for young people and a lack of access to tests alongside decreased use of contraception.

It called for a public awareness campaign on testing and contraception targeted at young people.