HEPATITIS C is set to be eliminated in Leamington.
It is one of the most common blood borne viruses in the country and in order to eliminate it as a major health concern by 2025, NHS England set a series of specific targets, called micro-elimination, to tackle the virus and ensure that people are being diagnosed and getting the treatment they need quickly and easily.
And as of this month, Change Grow Live, a drug and alcohol service commissioned by Warwickshire County Council, has micro-eliminated hep C in Leamington, with Stratford next on the list to achieve the status.
In order to accomplish the micro-elimination targets in Leamington, Change Grow Live ran a clinic every other month offering residents accessing the service a test for hep C. They also visited pharmacies to conduct testing and utilised pharmacy data to better reach individuals who may be more at risk of having the virus.
WCC’s health spokesperson Coun Margaret Bell said: “This is an incredible achievement for Change Grow Live and they have made a huge difference to the lives of residents in Leamington by significantly increasing the number of people being treated for hep C.
“We want people to feel supported to lead safe, healthy and independent lives. Services like Change Grow Live believe in people, they take the time to understand what you’re going through, they don’t judge, and they help you to take the first steps to making positive changes in your life.
“If you think you might have hep C, get tested so you can get treated as soon as possible.”
Hep C is a virus that can infect the liver. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years. Most people with hep C can be cured with few or no side effects through taking a course of anti-viral tablets.
