Lead Organisation: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
A rapid treatment programme delivered by NHS staff is having a ‘life-changing’ impact on homeless people in North East Wales who are living with the hepatitis C virus.
Those who have benefitted from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s pioneering new treatment programme say it’s helped them regain access to their children, hug family members again, and re-enter the world of work.
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus which left untreated can cause liver cirrhosis and cancer.However, advancements in medicine have ensured that it can be successfully treated with an 8 to 12-week course of tablets.
The virus disproportionately affects the homeless community. Because they often struggle to access and engage with treatment, those who contract hepatitis C can be at risk of long-term complications, including liver cancer.
Determined to change this, staff from BCUHB’s Pharmacy, Point of Care, Substance Misuse Harm Reduction and Hepatology services have introduced a pioneering new approach to treatment, which is the first of its kind in Wales.
By taking their services to homeless people, the team have reduced the time it takes to diagnose and begin treatment from over six months, to just two weeks.
Regular, rapid testing is being offered, with results available in less than one hour, thanks to the use of specialist equipment, which utilises new technology. Treatment is then provided without delay, with intensive physical and psychological support provided throughout.
As well as helping people get their lives back on track, the team’s efforts are expected to deliver significant savings for the NHS, as the cost of providing early treatment is significantly lower than treating its longer-term complications.
The service won the Wales Advancing Healthcare Award for ‘Improving public health outcomes’ and has now been rolled out across North Wales. More information available here:
Meet the team providing ‘life-changing’ support to homeless people living with hepatitis C
Pioneering Hepatitis C project helps more vulnerable people get tested and treated