A SERVICE to tackle the Hepatitis C virus in Halton has had a major breakthrough.

Change Grow Live’s Integrated Recovery Service in Halton has confirmed the successful 'micro-elimination' the virus.

To achieve micro-elimination the Recovery Service had to:

  •  Ensure that 100% of the people who use the services are offered a Hepatitis C test
  • Ensure that 90% of those people offered a test were tested
  • Support 75% of the people diagnosed with Hepatitis C to start treatment.

The success is the art of a plan to eliminate the virus by 2025.

Matt Milner, patient access to care manager for Gilead Sciences said, “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Change Grow Live to work towards the elimination of Hepatitis C in all services by 2025. The achievement of micro-elimination in Halton takes us another step closer to that goal and we’ll continue to work together with the NHS to improve the care pathway of identification, diagnosis and treatment for patients.”

Charlotte Roberts, service manager for Change Grow Live in Halton said, “It has been important for us to break down barriers that people were facing in receiving treatment for Hepatitis C. Working alongside the Royal Liverpool University Hospital hepatology staff, we have been able to offer treatment from our Change Grow Live sites, which has enabled more people to start and complete their treatment. We are immensely proud of what everyone who has received treatment has achieved and have been privileged to see the positive impact that eliminating Hepatitis C can have for individuals and their families”.

Helen Caldwell, Nurse Consultant in Hepatology at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, played a pivotal role in treating patients.

Helen added, “It’s amazing news that we’ve achieved micro-elimination of Hepatitis C in Halton. It’s been a great project to collaborate on with the Halton local authority and charity Change Grow Live. To be the second Change Grow Live site in the country to achieve this makes me really proud of the service we provide.

“The aim of the ODN is to change how Hepatitis C treatment in England is being delivered. The regional centres, such as the Royal Liverpool, manage treatment decisions, prescribing and access for local patients. We’ve worked really well with the team in Halton and they’ve been very proactive at getting patients in to start on treatment.”

Cllr Marie Wright, portfolio holder for health & wellbeing at Halton Borough Council, added: “I am so pleased that the hard work and tenacity of all of the partners has created this wonderful result. Early detection and treatment of Hepatitis C is so important in reducing the harm that it can cause and finding new ways to work with local people is essential. This is another example of the great things that we can achieve when we put our service users first and all work together!”