News
21 November 2024
Via West Berkshire achieves micro-elimination of Hepatitis C
Pictured above: Via – West Berkshire team members
We’re delighted to confirm that our West Berkshire service has successfully achieved Hepatitis C micro-elimination!
Our team in West Berkshire have reached the following targets with the people who use their service:
- 100% of those in treatment have been offered a Hep C test
- 100% of people who currently inject or have previously injected have been tested for Hep C
- 90% of individuals who currently inject or have previously injected have been tested in the last 12 months
- 90% of people who were diagnosed with Hep C at the service have started treatment
By meeting these targets, we’re proud to report that Via – West Berkshire has formally achieved Hep C micro-elimination!
This success was made possible by the close collaborative partnership working with Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Thames Valley Operational Delivery Network, The Hepatitis C Trust, Gilead Sciences and NHS England.
We’d also like to thank all the staff and volunteers at Via – West Berkshire who have been working tirelessly to promote testing and treatment with the people they work with, on their journey to micro-eliminate Hep C.
Dr Matt Pearce, Director of Public Health at West Berkshire Council said: “This is fantastic news, a significant Public Health achievement, and a major step forward in protecting the health of our community.”
Dani Cawsey, Service Manager and Jon Nicholas, Clinical Lead at Via – West Berkshire said: “We are incredibly proud that, through our collective efforts and dedication, we have achieved micro-elimination of Hepatitis C in West Berkshire. Our team and broader care partnerships have worked with determination to ensure people are regularly tested and supported in treatment. This remarkable milestone underscores our commitment to a healthier, Hepatitis C-free future for our community. It is a testament to the hard work and determination of everyone involved.”
Eleanor Lyden-Vieten, Area Director at Via said: “I am proud to announce that West Berkshire has achieved a significant milestone in public health: the successful micro elimination of Hepatitis C. This achievement reflects hard work, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of our service users. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this monumental achievement.”
Gary Marlow, Hepatitis C Specialist AHP at Royal Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust said: “Micro-elimination is a major milestone for a service to achieve and shows that Via not only care about the outcomes of the community they serve but are willing to put in the hard work to ensure they deliver. Blood borne viruses (BBVs) such as Hepatitis C can drastically affect the lives of those infected, and their families, and often people remain unaware they have one before significant damage is done. Via’s dedication in ensuring those they serve, some of the people at highest risk of having BBVs, are promptly screened has doubtlessly made a significant impact in their community. Via have worked with the NHS to ensure people are tested, referred and treated promptly and this will have led to those affected benefitting from increasing life expectancy. The Royal Berkshire Hospital is truly proud of the work of Via staff and hope to support Via in their goals to remain micro-eliminated long term.”
Adedayo Leduwe, Thames Valley ODN Manager said: “The goal of the Hepatitis C (Hep C) Elimination Campaign is to reach micro-elimination within the community, for Via to reach this milestone is a big achievement, highlighting their dedicated efforts to ensure individuals are screened and tested. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus (BBV) that can damage the liver, and without treatment, it may lead to serious complications, including liver scarring (cirrhosis). In advanced cases, this can progress to liver failure, where the liver loses essential functions, or even to liver cancer. Via has partnered with the NHS to reach those in the community who have a higher risk of contracting BBVs, providing thorough screening, testing, and treatment. The Thames Valley Hep C Team is deeply proud of Via’s commitment to patient care and health improvement, and we are confident in their ability to maintain micro-elimination in the long term.”
Marlon Freeman, National Hepatitis C Coordinator at Via said: “I attribute the tremendous success of our West Berkshire service to the deep compassion the team show towards the individuals they support. In July 2023, we officially launched the Hep C micro-elimination project in West Berkshire, and it’s remarkable to see that, just a year later, they’ve achieved micro-elimination. We aim to use this success as a model at Via; congratulations to the entire team!”
If you live in West Berkshire and would like to talk to someone about your own or someone else’s drug or alcohol use, please contact us on 0300 303 4554 or west.berkshire@viaorg.uk.
