Resources

As part of the National Liver Disease Strategy (NLDS), this document summarises the findings of a Census of the Medical Workforce (Consultant Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists). The census was undertaken with the aim of assessing the current capacity and infrastructure for delivery of Liver services in England, to identify which secondary care pathways already exist for referral and management, to understand how the current secondary care services relate to burden of disease, and to assess future training needs and capacity for liver services.

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.

This document reviews the current landscape of UK liver disease and advises the Department of Health on ways to improve liver services and the outcomes of liver disease in the UK. It stresses the fact that radical change in the profile of the disease is achievable, and includes recommendations on cost-effective and high quality management of liver disease and liver services, the establishment of training frameworks and the setting of clinical standards, quality metrics and guidelines for the monitoring and assessment of local services.

The actions set out in this report form the core of a plan to address hepatitis C in Northern Ireland for the period 2006-2008. Its aim is to achieve a reduction in the transmission of hepatitis C in Northern Ireland and to ensure that people with hepatitis C infection are identified and receive high quality, evidence-based, patient-focused treatment and care.