We are excited to announce that one of Forward Leeds’s hubs, has achieved micro-elimination for Hepatitis C. Irford House is the first site in Forward Leeds and the second site in West Yorkshire Liver Care Operational Delivery Networks area to achieve micro-elimination.
Over the last two years the team at Forward Leeds, part of the Waythrough organisation, have worked diligently to identify their clients at risk and ensured that they have been tested for hepatitis C and other blood borne viruses (BBVs). Working closely with the ODN team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and The Hepatitis C Trust, they have supported their clients through the hepatitis C treatment pathway and have micro-eliminated hepatitis C from their service.
Achieving this milestone was a multi-disciplinary approach, involving key players from different departments across Waythrough, including frontline and back office staff, bringing together their expertise so that the four elimination criteria for drug treatment services were met.
Waythrough’s Hepatitis C National Co Ordinator Debbie Moores, Regional Hepatitis C Coordinator Darren Bloomfield, Caroline Martin Hepatitis C Data Analyst and Stuart Manning Hepatitis C Champion, supported the elimination agenda to ensure that they were available to support the Forward Leeds team.
Debbie Moores, Hepatitis C National Co Ordinator at Waythrough said:
“The Forward Leeds team at Irford House have worked tirelessly to ensure that clients who has ever put themselves at risk of BBVs have been tested and where required, they have been supported to engage in life saving treatment. The team have been supported by their local management, Hep C Coordinators, Hepatology nurses from LTHT, the Hep C Trust, ODN colleagues and the Patient Access Team at Gilead Sciences.”
“We achieved elimination in this hub by a recipe of support, collaboration, hard work and dedication that got us to where we need to be. We will never give up, we will keep offering tests, keep testing our clients and support them into treatment.”
“For those who are engaged in drug treatment services Irford House, Forward Leeds, this means that they are aware of Hepatitis C and how transmission occurs. They know that they can be treated if they put themselves at risk and know how to access treatment. This all adds up to a safer and healthier future free from Hep C.”
Tim Lilley, Senior Manager, Patient Access to Care, Gilead Sciences Ltd said:
“Congratulations to all who have been involved at Irford House Hub – Forward Leeds in achieving micro-elimination. This is a fantastic achievement and a real milestone towards the city of Leeds achieving elimination of Hepatitis C.”