International Festival of Public Health

Hepatitis C: Public Health Challenges and Opportunities

(This workshop has been supported by MSD)

Hepatitis C (HCV) presents a major public health need, especially in North West England, which has the highest rates of HCV diagnoses, along with the highest mortality from liver disease in England and Wales. The problem is compounded locally by high rates of hazardous alcohol consumption.

However unlike many chronic viral infections, HCV is potentially curable and can lead to a greater than 80% reduction in liver related morbidity and mortality. But treatment is arduous, and often challenging for patients who may already find it hard to access support and to comply with a complex healthcare routine

In this workshop, Martin Prince, clinical hepatologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary and the chair of the Greater Manchester liver disease network, will outline current epidemiology of HCV infection locally and nationally, including the burden of disease and current as well as future treatment options. Barriers to therapy and potential solutions will be discussed along with examples of how various groups have overcome these issues to provide high standards of care to this patient group.

Session Lead - Martin Prince

Martin Prince is a clinical hepatologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary and the chair of the Greater Manchester liver disease network . He has worked in Manchester since 2006 having previously trained in Northeast England including several years working in the Newcastle Liver Transplant Unit. Whilst based in Newcastle Dr Prince completed his PhD working between the departments of Clinical Medical Sciences and Public health on the epidemiology of autoimmune liver disease and undertook his Masters in public health.

He is a member of the Greater Manchester hepatitis C strategy group and the HPB cancer improving outcomes group and an Associate Hospital Dean for Undergraduate Education for at Central Manchester Foundation Trust.