Reducing blockages in the pathway to Hepatitis C treatment

Emma Burke, PHE

Current London PictureFindings from the London Hepatitis C Snapshot:

• Self reported by London Drug Treatment Commissioners

• Information received from 31/32 boroughs

• Some form of pathway to HCV treatment in place in 20 boroughs (but with widely varying ‘strength’ of pathway)

• 5 boroughs reported pathways in development

• 6 boroughs reported no pathway in place

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Reported Blockages to HCV Treatment• Lack of local awareness of referral processes, including GPs and drugs

services

• Clients not attending appointments at hospitals

• Hospital appointment systems not being flexible to the client’s needs

• Time delays between appointments / waiting times

• Need for increased hepatology presence in drug services

• Stigma and myth about HCV and access to HCV treatment

• Lack of knowledge about HCV amongst service users

• Service users unwilling to go through ‘harsh’ treatment

• Hospital staff availability to provide treatment in the community

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Reported Blockages to HCV Treatment• Lack of communication between hepatology and drug services

• Lack of community based treatment services

• Cultural issues

• Hospital staff perceptions of drug users

• Lack of drug treatment staff skills to test for HCV

• Lack of drug treatment staff awareness and / or training available locally

• Lack of clarity between providers on roles and responsibilities

• Patients not being followed up

• Not enough trained phlebotomists to take venous samples

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Aim of workshop: identify solutions to blockagesUsing the LJWG Pathway document:

• Consider what blockages may be encountered at different stages of the pathway

• Suggest opportunities and solutions to resolve the blockage, drawing on local experience

• Identify who (role/organisation) may be able to assist taking this forward locally

• Feedback 1 blockage and suggested solution(s) per table

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