Hepatitis C has been micro-eliminated in Bury!
Today, on Friday 26th July 2024, Achieve Recovery Services announce that hepatitis C (hep C) has officially been micro-eliminated in Bury.
This landmark moment, which falls just two days before World Hepatitis Day 2024 (28th July), comes after years of partnership-working to make sure that all who are at risk of hep C in Bury and beyond are tested and treated for the condition.
Hep C is a blood borne virus which can affects the liver. Symptoms can range in severity, but if left untreated it can cause the liver to stop working properly and result in serious liver damage, including liver cancer.
It often has no symptoms and can be passed from person to person via exposure to infected blood.
One of the main ways hep C is spread is by sharing drug-using paraphernalia such as injecting equipment - meaning people accessing addictions services have an increased risk of infection.
People can also be vulnerable to hep C if they have had unprotected sex, used unsterile equipment for tattoos, accessed medical or dental treatment abroad in unsterile conditions, or if they have had blood transfusion prior to 1996.
It is estimated that globally, 58 million people have an active hep C viral infection, and there are around 1.5 million new infections each year. While there is currently no effective vaccine for prevention, antiviral medicines have a cure rate of over 95%.
The World Health Organisation has committed to achieving hep C virus elimination globally by 2030; and NHS England (NHSE) has set a target to eliminate hep C in England ahead of 2030, predominantly through ‘micro-elimination’, meaning elimination in defined populations.
To measure progress towards micro-elimination across England, a forum made up of Drug and Alcohol Providers, NHSE, Hepatitis C Trust and Gilead Sciences co-developed a definition and quality standards for micro-elimination. They defined it as:
- 100% of people in structured treatment for addictions or substance misuse are offered a hepatitis C test.
- 100% of people with a history of injecting have been tested for hepatitis C.
- 90% of people with a history of injecting who might still be at risk have a hepatitis C test date within the last 12 months.
- 90% of people who’ve tested positive for hepatitis have started or completed treatment.
Achieve Recovery Services, part of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), is the lead provider community addictions services in the boroughs of Bury, Bolton, Salford and Trafford. In 2021, alongside its partner agencies and stakeholders, Achieve developed a plan to micro-eliminate hep C across these boroughs by 2030.
This work has been supported by funding from Hep C U Later (run by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust), the Office for Health Inequalities and Disparities, and local authority commissioners.
It involves a number of local initiatives and programmes to test and treat those at risk, including those in contact with drug and alcohol services, their family and friends, and the wider public.
Blood borne virus testing is offered through a programme of test and treat events, drop ins, needle exchange points, structured appointments, and outreach appointments.
Specialist harm reduction advice is also provided to reduce risks and help stop the spread of infections.
For those who test positive, treatment is offered by specialist clinicians via North Manchester Hospital, run by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. This can be delivered at local Achieve sites, where people often feel most comfortable.
Those affected can also be referred to specialist liver clinics for ongoing physical support if needed.
Over the last three years, Achieve Bury have completed over 1,000 tests for hep C, with 99% of all people who are known to have a history of injecting being tested.
96% of people who tested positive have gone on to access treatment.
Andrew, 48, was referred to Achieve Bury for hep C testing, and went on to receive treatment.
He said:
“I usually struggle to give blood, it’s difficult to find my veins. Achieve were able to draw enough blood to test via a pin prick to my finger which made the process much easier.
“The service now uses a Cepheid machine, which means that results are delivered within around an hour of being tested. I waited at the service to receive my results there and then. Previously, it has taken up to a few months to get my results back - the process is so much easier and quicker now.
“Treatment started right away after I tested positive. Staff explained that I needed to take medication to treat the virus, one tablet a day over three months.
“I was afraid to take the medication at first, because treatment for hep C had previously made me feel unwell, when it was in the form of injections. Staff reassured me that tablets wouldn’t make ill and supported me to take them daily. I experienced no side effects from the tablets this time at all.
“I am now completely cleared of hep C and all the health risks it exposes, which is a great relief.
“The staff at Achieve are nice and helpful. I’ve built up a good relationship with the staff and I have regular follow up appointments.
“Achieve also offer to test for Hep C every six months or so to ensure that the virus hasn’t returned.
“I really want to get the message out of how easy the hep C screening and treatment is, with Achieve’s support. I’d absolutely recommend it to others.”
Tonya Nettleton, Team Manager at Achieve, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) said:
“We are delighted to announce that hep C has been micro-eliminated across Bury. This amazing achievement could not have happened without the support and efforts of all our brilliant community and public sector partners.
“We work closely with Hep C U Later to regularly review the testing data across Bury, Bolton, Salford and Trafford, and continue to provide support to those we know to be high risk.
“If you or someone you know could be at risk of hep C, help is available. You can visit www.gmmh.nhs.uk/achieve to find out more about the support in your area, or email us at achieve.referrals@gmmh.nhs.uk. Or, you can contact the Hepatitis C Trust helpline on 020 7089 6221. You can also access a free at home test kit for hep C by visiting www.hepculater.com or https://hepctest.nhs.uk/ref/cul.”
