Liver Buddies Case Study – Carol Williams-Powell
When Carol Williams-Powell first learned she had tested positive for Hepatitis C, it came in the form of a blunt letter from the NHS, which also recommended she take an HIV test.
“The letter was so blunt that I was really shocked.” said Carol, a mum of three, from Huddersfield. “And the recommendation to take an HIV test really shocked me. I was so upset. There were no offers of help or support in the letter, and I didn’t know what to do.”
Carol believed she contracted Hepatitis C, a viral infection that can seriously damage the liver and cause liver cancer, when she had a tattoo around twenty years previously. She believes the infection came from the tattoo ink, which wasn’t known about at the time.
She is now clear of the disease after several years of treatment and is using her experience to help the people in West Yorkshire in a similar situation to the one she faced.
Carol underwent three rounds of treatment over a five-year period before being given the all-clear. Although she benefited from new medications becoming available, knowing her liver had been damaged, and would require lifelong surveillance, was emotionally very difficult for her.
“I know first-hand the effects Hepatitis C can have, and it affected my entire life. It caused a great deal of anxiety and stress that has remained with me. I feel very passionately that people need support and help and the ear of someone who has been through something similar.”
“I feel very strongly that there should be a clear support system linked to this level of lifelong surveillance. Whilst I really appreciate the health care and treatment I received, emotional and psychological support is lacking”.
“I know I can provide this help and support and am very excited about my new role”
Carol has been appointed Liver Surveillance Peer Support Lead within the West Yorkshire Liver Care Operational Delivery Network (WYLCODN). As part of her new role, Carol offers peer to peer support, encouraging people to have liver health checks to help detect and diagnose liver cancer as early as possible – when it is easier to treat – whilst also supporting anyone who tests positive.
The checks take place on our mobile clinic vehicle, affectionately known as O-liver. The vehicle is equipped with a Fibroscan machine that travels around Leeds and West Yorkshire, including Bradford, Keighley, Wakefield, Halifax and Huddersfield, which is hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The WYLCODN is a managed NHS network for the treatment of Hepatitis C and other liver diseases and allows the teams to visit high-risk communities as part of a major NHS drive to catch more cancers earlier and save lives.
Following Carol’s induction in November 2023, she first started to pre-call patients in December 2023 (up to February 2024), with the following outcomes:
- 84 patients were contacted
- 35 patients were unable to be contacted
- 13 patients had incorrect contact information
- 1 patient had already had a scan
Out of the 84 patients contacted:
- 82 patients attended their appointment which equates to 97.62%.
- 2 patients did not attend which equates to 2.38%.
Overall, out of the 133 patients booked since Carol started, 112 (84.21%) of people have attended their appointment.
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Testimonials
The treatment didn’t really give me any side effects as sounds better than injections and I’m glad I’ve done it as now I’m Hep C free.
Bradford patient
Keep you informed and easy to talk to as well as respect privacy.
Bradford patient
All nurses and reception are very kind and welcoming and do their best to inform us about everything useful for the treatment.
Patient
Kept me fully informed about my progress, spoke so I could understand everything clearly.
HMP Leeds patient
Being able to chat openly with staff and not being judged.
Bradford patient
Had no problems and received wonderful service.
Leeds patient
The staff are very friendly and treated me with respect.
Leeds patient
The nurses are very nice. I’ve been in and out of hospital for 3 years but never heard of Hep C. They are kind helpful and didn’t judge.
Patient
All the staff caring and are sympathetic to the patients.
Leeds patient
The nurses, doctors and staff have been absolutely fantastic, reassuring and helpful. Thank you!
Patient
Very supportive staff, I feel better finishing my treatment
Leeds patient