Understanding the pathway: barriers to data collection and onward referral to specialist hepatitis C services for PWID in London

Research published in Value in Health in December 2020 found that testing for hepatitis C and hepatitis B in A&E departments in the UK is highly likely to be cost effective due to high rates of hepatitis among people who attend A&E. Based on a study of two London hospitals, the paper argues that, just as NICE guidelines recommend testing people attending A&E for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B testing should also occur.

This Public Health England report covers the findings of analyses of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response on sexually transmitted infection (STI), HIV and viral hepatitis service provision and epidemiology. Despite a resurgence in hepatitis C testing and treatment initiations from June 2020, testing and treatment initiations in the summer of 2020 were considerably lower than in corresponding months in 2019. The report notes that "HCV testing through traditional venues may not have reached those in greatest need", describing this is "of particular concern".