A new community liver health bus launched in Mitcham and Tooting on World Hepatitis Day, 28 July 2022. The bus, from St George’s Hospital, will cover the whole of South West London, offering checks for hepatitis C and liver health to people at risk.
Those most at risk of liver disease include people who are overweight, have non-alcohol fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes, those who regularly drink excess alcohol, and people diagnosed with viral hepatitis.
“Liver disease is the third leading cause of death in the UK and the numbers are increasing.
Helen Boothman, St George’s Hospital Lead Hepatology Pharmacist, said: “Many people living with liver disease may be completely unaware because there are often no symptoms in the early stages.
“The good news is that 90% of liver disease is preventable and, if caught at an early stage, liver damage can often be reversed. We are encouraging people to come along for the free liver health screening to find out their risk of liver disease and get expert advice – which could save their lives.”
We hope that by bringing opportunities to detect liver disease out to community settings will make it easier for people to pop along.”
Councillor Peter McCabe, Merton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: ”Early identification of liver disease is vital to prevent future ill health. We hope that by bringing opportunities to detect liver disease out to community settings will make it easier for people to pop along. We would encourage all those who think they might be at risk of liver disease to talk to our health experts in confidence.”
Further community screening events will be planned later this year to reach high risk population groups who may have challenges reaching services as part of the Merton Health on the High Street programme. It brings healthcare closer to communities, using established spaces such as libraries, leisure centres and public squares as well as commercial units and empty shops.
People who can’t attend an event can check their liver health using an online screening test on the British Liver Trust website.
For further information, contact the team at St George’s Hospital.
