Sexual health experts from Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust will be on hand at this weekend’s Birmingham Pride festival, to offer locals free and confidential tests for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, hepatitis-B and C.

The Trust, which includes Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital, will have their sexual health teams on hand, supported by HIV awareness charity Saving Lives, to offer tests to as many revellers as possible. This is a simple test and can be taken quickly and easily outside of a clinical setting.

Emma Barrie, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust sexual health outreach manager, said: “Birmingham Pride provides a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of sexual health in the gay community. The dry blood spot test for HIV, Hepatitis-B and Hepatitis-C is a great way for people to check their sexual health, and we’re hoping it will help raise awareness of the importance of regular testing.

“We will also be offering tests for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. We want to make sure as many visitors as possible are tested over the weekend.”

The testing team will be available on both days of Birmingham Pride on 24 and 25 May 2014, between 10am and 6pm at Healthy Gay Life, 146 Bromsgrove Street.

For further information about the testing service at Birmingham Pride, go to www.sexualhealthbirmingham.nhs.uk and click on the link for HGL www.hgl.nhs.uk or contact John Singh on 07540672105.