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Britain 'failing' on hepatitis C
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The UK lags behind many other European countries in treating hepatitis C and without urgent action thousands could die prematurely, a charity says.
The Hepatitis C Trust called for new screening targets, estimating 500,000 UK people had the virus, which attacks the liver, but only one in seven knew.
It compared the situation in the UK with France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The government said it recognised the blood-borne disease as a priority and had a clear UK framework for action.
However, the trust believes this is not enough.
"We need to learn what countries such as France have done to successfully manage the disease"
Professor William Rosenberg, lead author of the report
Hepatitis C 'needn't be a killer'
According to the charity, the UK has the lowest percentage of people with hepatitis C being treated compared with the four other European countries it looked at.
Only 1-2% of those with the disease in the UK had been identified and treated with approved drugs, which can cure between 60-80% of those treated, it said.
At least five times more people in France are likely to receive treatment than in the UK, said the trust.
Italy, Spain and Germany are also better at diagnosing and treating people with hepatitis C, it added.
The Hepatitis C Trust's chief executive, Charles Gore, said: "The government needs to make hepatitis C a priority.
"We have a dreadfully poor track record at diagnosing the disease.
"Over 400,000 people in the UK with the virus are completely unaware they have been infected.
Lessons from France
"As a consequence, they are not in a position to make lifestyle decisions that could reduce liver damage and may inadvertently be putting others at risk of infection."
Professor William Rosenberg, lead author of the report from the University of Southampton, said: "If we catch it in time, the virus can be treated with drugs that cure 40-80% of those infected.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE TRUST
-Set targets for screening and treatment
-Increase public awareness
-Improve care delivery
-Work on rapid referrals
"We have no time to lose. We need to learn what countries such as France have done to successfully manage the disease."
The French government ran annual awareness campaigns and set a target of screening 85% of at-risk populations by 2003.
Such measures have led to better detection and a significant reduction in deaths, said the trust.
Hepatitis C is usually passed on by intravenous drug use, but can also be spread through tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture or through blood transfusions carried out before screening for hepatitis C began in 1991.
People can be infected with the virus for more than 20 years before symptoms develop.
Up to a third of those who are infected will go on to develop severe liver disease, which may prove fatal if they do not receive a liver transplant.
The Department of Health said in a statement: "The Chief Medical Officer has already highlighted treating hepatitis C as a public health issue in his infectious disease strategy.
"We have set out a clear national framework for action and provided support for raising awareness and improving surveillance, which are a key factor in improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
"We have also asked primary care trusts and their local partners to ensure that local arrangements are in place to provide appropriate services."
Warning over Hep C infection rate
About 50,000 people in Scotland are infected with Hepatitis C - double the UK average, according to a report.
BBC NEWS
A study by the Hepatitis C Trust found 1% of Scotland's population was infected with the disease.
The trust's Charles Gore criticised the Scottish Executive for what he said was its failure to set adequate screening targets for the virus.
The executive said it took the spread of Hep C "very seriously" and had drawn up an action plan to tackle the virus.
The virus is carried in the blood, and people with the infection can pass it on if their blood gets under the skin or into the bloodstream of another person.
The trust said only one in three Hep C sufferers in Scotland had been screened for the virus and treating the disease would cost £30m in 2006.
It also claimed sufferers in France were four times more likely to receive effective treatment.
Mr Gore said the trust was disappointed at the executive's "low-key" awareness campaign to tackle the "impending crisis".
"The experience of the rest of Europe demonstrates that it is only through repeated and planned high profile campaigns that we actually get through to the general public," he said.
Liver damage
"We have a dreadfully poor track record at diagnosing the disease. Although Scotland is doing much better than England, roughly 25,000 people in Scotland with the virus are completely unaware they have been infected.
"As a consequence they are not in a position to make lifestyle decisions that could reduce liver damage and may inadvertently be putting others at risk of infection."
The trust warned that slow diagnosis in some sufferers could result in "late stage" liver disease, where only a transplant could cure them.
Action plan
The executive launched a consultation on its proposed Hep C action plan in June.
Its spokeswoman said: "We want to see NHS boards, the voluntary sector, Health Protection Scotland and professionals from a range of specialities getting involved to help Hep C sufferers and promote understanding of the condition.
"The proposed action plan includes the development of managed clinical networks in Scotland, the development of a new guideline for the diagnosis, treatment and care of the people with Hep C."
The executive's consultation is due to end on 26 September and its spokeswoman said it would aim to learn the lessons that would help tackle the disease in Scotland.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4295116.stm
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