Published on: 29 July 2022

Hepatitis C has been eliminated from three out of four Lancashire and South Cumbria prisons following a highly successful project.

Thanks to a team of health professionals at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust HMP Preston, Wymott and HMP Kirkham are now free of the virus.

Over 2,500 prisoners were tested for Hepatitis C and 159 people have now been successfully treated after clinics were set up at HMP Preston, Wymott and Garth.

The prisons were pinpointed for the project as they were found to have the highest cases of the virus in the area.

Hepatitis C, when left untreated can be fatal and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has pledged that the UK will be the first in the world to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2025 - five years ahead of a global target set by the World Health Organisation. 

Dr Ioannis Gkikas, Clinical Lead for the programme said: “I am extremely proud of what has been achieved across Lancashire and South Cumbria in such a short time. Our team were the first in the northwest to have a set plan in place to tackle this challenge.

“Hepatitis C, whilst serious, is easily treatable with antiviral medication. New medication brought into use in 2015 is more than 90% successful in treating the Hepatitis C virus.

“The project has three main areas of focus – to encourage testing, to encourage and deliver treatment and finally, to educate. Whether an individual has tested positive for the virus or not, we deliver an education programme to raise awareness of the symptoms, the benefits of treatment and how to avoid transmission.

“I want to thank all the team members but also the prisons who were eager to participate in the project – allowing us to implement the project extremely quickly.”