Mobile units will be deployed to Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and Hull to test residents for Hepatitis C.
Taking a proactive approach to screening the disease and finding it the early stages means less pressure later on the NHS from long-term health problems such as liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer. The disease is curable if caught early but left untreated it can lead to other health issues.
Hull is believed to have one of the highest rates of the bloodborne virus in the nation — as revealed by the NHS Humber Health Partnership. The health partnership, is made up of several organisations including Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.
According to the partnership, Hepatitis C is a ‘hidden virus’ with many people unaware they have it. They added that more than 4,900 people had been tested locally over the past three years — with about 15% found to be antibody positive.
(Image: Alamy/PA)
Kasey P, Assistant Business Support Manager for NHS Humber Health Partnership said: “One of our main challenges in tackling Hepatitis C is to promote greater understanding of what it is and how it’s contracted.
“The virus used to be associated more with intravenous drug users, but this picture is changing quickly and we’re seeing a growing number of people who have contracted it by something as straight forward as having a piercing or a tattoo, for example, if equipment hasn’t been properly sterilised.
“This isn’t what people would generally consider risky behaviour, but any activity where a person comes into contact with another person’s blood, even something as simple as sharing a toothbrush, poses a risk of Hep C transmission.”
“For us, it’s really about reaching out to people who may find it hard to access routine health services or who might not be able to afford to travel to appointments, as well as to those who simply don’t know they’re at risk, to offer proactive advice, screening and treatment.”
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The two vehicles will be staffed by a variety of different positions. Specialist nurses will deliver clinical care and community engagement leads will communicate with patients to ensure they are able to access testing plus any necessary treatment if required.
From the outside, the vans just look like ordinary vehicles but inside, the interior has been fully redesigned and refitted to serve their purpose as a mobile clinic. There is enough space for consultations, blood tests and liver scans — providing a sterile environment for the staff to work.
Kim Santos, Hepatitis C specialist nurse said: “The vehicles serve two main purposes for us. The first is outreach to people who find it difficult or just aren’t used to accessing routine healthcare, and the second is raising the profile of Hepatitis C as a virus which anyone could be susceptible to.
“We have been heavily involved in designing the inside of the vans so they give us the facilities and the space we need to deliver the best possible service. Some of our patients are between homes or move around a lot, so find it easier to attend appointments outside hospital. The vans enable us to take testing and treatment to them, and for some patients this can all be done in one go.
“At the same time, the vans will allow us to go out to more locations, such as health centres, food banks and hostels, and take part in community events, so we can speak to people more generally about their risk of Hepatitis C. It’s not a virus that’s talked about a great deal so people aren’t generally as familiar with what it is or the risks it poses.
“The good news is that Hepatitis C is curable with a course of medication, and if we catch any liver damage early, there’s a good chance this can also be reversed, so it really is best to get checked out.“
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If you are concerned about the risk of Hepatitis C and wish to be tested, you can order a free NHS home testing kit which can delivered straight to your door via the NHS website: https://hepctest.nhs.uk/
The vans are now hitting the roads of North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire — starting in Scarborough, Whitby and York.