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Darlington alcohol, drug and mental health charity declares hepatitis c micro-elimination

1 November 2023

Breaking stigma and empowering people in recovery to screen for hepatitis C, national charity WithYou makes huge leap towards eliminating the blood-borne virus among people in active treatment

Alcohol, drug and mental health charity WithYou has achieved micro-elimination of hepatitis C in its Darlington service; a huge step towards NHS England’s target to eliminate the virus by 2025.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection affecting the liver, which can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis, cancer and death. With few initial symptoms the infection often goes unnoticed until it’s caused significant liver damage. Globally, an estimated 58 million people live with chronic hepatitis C, with about 1.5 million new yearly infections.

A blood-borne virus, most infections occur through exposure to blood from unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, unscreened blood transfusions and some sexual practices, but can also be shared through tattoos, sharing razors and even toothbrushes.

WithYou’s Darlington service has achieved micro-elimination, defined as:

  • 100% of clients in structured treatment are offered a hepatitis C test
  • 100% of those with a history of injecting have been tested
  • 90% of current and previous injectors (at risk) have a hepatitis C test date within the last 12 months
  • 90% of clients who’ve tested positive for hepatitis have commenced treatment

NHS England has set a target to eliminate hepatitis C by 2025. As part of a partnership with Gilead Sciences, WithYou committed to micro-eliminate hepatitis C in 12 of their blood-borne virus commissioned services.

WithYou services are actively raising awareness and enhancing testing and treatment processes. Whilst the micro-elimination approach enables services to focus efforts on high-risk areas, the priority has been to normalise testing and embed it as part of core services. For this reason, WithYou launched their Test, Treat, Repeat campaign to encourage services to test every client whether or not they inject drugs.

Emma Lamond, Director of Integrated Treatment at WithYou, said:

“As an organisation, we are committed to and passionate about eliminating hepatitis C and supporting NHS England and partners to achieve and sustain our shared ambition. We recognise that clients may not always disclose their past injecting history or other risk factors; that’s why we want to challenge the stigma that surrounds hepatitis. Through these interventions, we have an opportunity to bust those myths, raise awareness, and empower people to stay safe and make informed decisions.

“I would like to thank the Darlington team who have achieved micro-elimination; the impact they’ve had is extraordinary. Their hard work means our service users have a greater chance of receiving timely, appropriate treatment and ultimately have the opportunity to get better.”

Mark, a client from Darlington treated for hepatitis C, said:

“I was told I could go on a three month course which I completed and felt fine all the way through. I'm glad I've done it and it [hepatitis c] has now gone. I would advise anyone to go get a check - it’s only a couple of pricks on your finger and it’s well worth it. I feel like a brand new man now — I feel good.”

Gary Besterfield, Head of Service Delivery for WithYou in Darlington at STRIDE, said:

“The frontline staff have worked tirelessly day in, day out to work towards micro-elimination in the Darlington area. We’re so proud of them all. It's a really big step for the clients like Mark, to come into service to get tested too - so we’re really pleased for them and for the positive outcomes they have worked so hard to achieve.”

Emma added :

“On behalf of WithYou I would also like to share our appreciation for all our BBV-commissioned service staff for their ongoing dedication, and to partners for their continued collaboration. We could not have reached this milestone without the joint working partnership and the dedicated and passionate team from the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and partners*.

“There is of course still work to be done - we must continue our comprehensive testing programme to sustain micro-elimination status and strive towards complete elimination of hepatitis C going forward which includes strengthening our harm reduction provision and reaching more people .”