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In July 2004 the Department of Health published a Hepatitis C Action Plan for England, setting out required actions for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and NHS Hospital Trusts. Over the following 18 months the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group (APPHG) became concerned by anecdotal evidence from patients and clinicians that the Action Plan was not being implemented in their area.

Dr Erika Duffell, Consultant in Health Protection at Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit (HPU) led a project on behalf of the local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to improve services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C in Greater Manchester. A steering group produced a comprehensive needs assessment and evidence-based strategy, which convinced PCT commissioners to invest in services. So far, the programme has led to the development of outreach clinics in local drug services, the recruitment of extra medical and nursing staff to treat

The population of Greater Manchester has amongst the highest prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the UK, and the associated health problems are escalating. And yet, at the time of writing HCV services in Greater Manchester did not meet the population need. In order to overcome these shortfalls, this document sets out a proposal that has been put to Greater Manchester PCTs to

In February 2006, more than 18 months after the launch of the Department of Health's 2004 Action Plan for Hepatitis C setting out required actions for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and NHS Hospital Trusts, the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group undertook a survey of PCTs and NHS Hospital Trusts in order to audit what actions they had taken to fulfil the Action Plan’s stated requirements. 'A Matter of Chance' reports on the findings of this research.