Hospital specific data, based on the alignment of the results from the unlinked anonymous testing of antenatal bloods and RCOG notifications, are also available for 14 major London hospitals. The survey in Scotland is co-ordinated by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health and the Neonatal Metabolic Screening Laboratory, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow. A steering group chaired by the Department of Health oversees the UA surveys, reviews strategy, and ensures that the data are collected, analysed, and presented in the most useful way for purchasers and providers. The highest prevalence of HIV in the UK is in inner London. A rise that was observed in 1999 has been sustained in the first half of 2000.
Recent figures are subject to reporting delays.
District data do not necessarily apply directly to individual hospitals in those districts because women who live in one district may receive antenatal care elsewhere. This is especially the case in urban areas. This proportion, which is slightly higher than that observed in 1999, is likely to rise as further reports of women with diagnosed HIV infection are made. In outer London the proportion of maternal infections diagnosed showed a small rise before 1998. The recent improvement in maternal diagnosis follows substantial efforts made to improve antenatal HIV diagnosis.