Mission to eliminate hepatitis C on target in town

Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus (goes from blood to blood). Transmissions can be through old/homemade tattoos/piercings, current/past drug use, anal sex, blood transfusions before 1991, and healthcare abroad.

The virus goes into the liver cells and replicates itself, which over several years can cause serious liver scarring and complications.

With a lack of clear symptoms, people can be infected with hepatitis C and go undiagnosed for many years and, if left too long, the virus can cause fatal liver damage and possibly lead to liver cancer.

As part of a national campaign, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) is co-ordinating rapid testing, liver scanning and treatment across the region.

This enables people to get quick, convenient testing near to where they live as well as reaching at-risk people who may find it difficult to travel long distances to hospital-based services.

A multidisciplinary team led by Addenbrooke's Hospital is involved in this mission, including former patients who work as peer advocates, nurse specialists, expert technicians and many more all working to find, treat and cure patients.

It’s spearheaded by a community van and specialist team, visiting community clinics and support groups, town centres, places of worship, drug and alcohol services, probation services, and prisons.

John Wortley runs the eastern region hepatitis C operational delivery network for CUH.

He said: “Reaching our target in Wisbech is a result of a huge team effort.

“To keep the virus at bay we will keep monitoring those areas for re-infection, but as things stand, we’ve achieved our goal and eliminated hep c from those communities.

“Our mission now is to do the same across the region, with many areas on track to achieve this.”

Both testing and treatment has improved in recent years, with no need for liver biopsies and injections. Testing usually involves a finger prick test or mouth swab.

Treatment is easy to take and accessible, involving 8-12 weeks of tablets with few or no side effects and a 96% cure rate.

Last year the team tested 2,729 people and 509 started treatment. Since April this year, 903 people have been tested and 216 have started treatment, an increase so far year on year.

56-year-old Mark Brunning was treated by the team for hepatitis C five years ago, having lived with the virus for around 20 years.

He became infected as a drug user but struggled to access effective testing and treatment.

He now works as a patient advocate for the service.

“I’ve seen friends die of hepatitis C,” he said.

“They didn’t get the treatment they needed, mainly because it wasn’t accessible enough and they didn’t get the right support.

“That’s changed now, and this service is going out of its way to find those people and offer them lifesaving care.”

He added: “My message is simple; get tested, get treated, get cured.”

You can hear more about Mark's treatment by watching a video on YouTube.

In Wisbech, Selena White runs a local community clinic which is part of the CHU hepatitis C service.

She says it’s crucial to raise awareness of hepatitis C and break the stigma it carries.

“In rural Wisbech and Fenland, we have gone the extra mile to visit service users in the community to complete testing,” she said.

“The impact we see when service users test positive is heartfelt and with support from the CUH team, we can deliver treatment within our clinic, where patients feel comfortable.

“Once treatment is completed, we truly feel we have helped deliver life-changing care.”

The NHS has an ambitious plan to eliminate hepatitis C from England before the global goal of 2030.

It’s estimated tens of thousands of people are still infected country-wide and tracking these people down is key to eliminating the virus.

Rachel Bates is a clinical nurse specialist and works on the community van.

She said: “Eliminating hepatitis C is key to improving the health of both individuals and the wider community.

“It promotes peoples long-term health, improves their quality of life, and reduces the risk of developing major illnesses.”

You can hear more about Rachel's role by watching a video on YouTube.