SOME locals at risk of contracting HIV are being denied access to a revolutionary new pill because there are no places left on the drug trial.

The National AIDS Trust (NAT) called on health chiefs to make pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP, available on the NHS.

The charity said it was 'completely unacceptable' that people in need of the drug, which prevents people from getting HIV, could not access it.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said all of the places on the local PrEP trial had been taken.

The spokesman added: "We have a waiting list for those wanting to go on the trial should more places be made available by the trial organisers.

"The findings from this study will help NHS England and local authorities make decisions about how PrEP could be provided in the future.

"It is anticipated that a national programme will be put in place and that PrEP will be available to all who are eligible."

Deborah Gold, chief executive of the NAT, said: “PrEP is 100 per cent effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed.

"NHS England’s decision-making process concluded that PrEP should be commissioned and just last month the cost of the drug has substantially reduced as a result of court judgments on the patent.

"It is therefore completely unacceptable for people in need of PrEP to be denied it by the NHS.

"NHS England and local authorities must urgently agree a national PrEP programme to start as soon as possible in 2019.”

PrEP is currently not accessible on the NHS outside the trial, which is available to those aged over 16 who are at high risk of contracting HIV.

It is currently being run at the John Anthony Centre, in Newtown Road, Worcester, the Arrowside Unit at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, and the Integrated Sexual Health Clinic in Hereford.

The trial started in May.