UHBW works with the Big Issue to deliver potentially life-saving scans and tests to some of the city’s most vulnerable people
Photographed: Jade King, Peer Support Lead at the Hepatitis C Trust, Sally Tilden, UHBW Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Annie Archer, UHBW Hepatology Registrar
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) has been delivering potentially life-saving liver scans to people in the homeless community with the support of the Big Issue.
Alright My Liver?, the scheme which performs liver scans in the community on people at high risk of liver disease, led its first drop-in clinic at the Big Issue offices in Bristol this week (Monday 14 April) to help identify people who are at risk of conditions related to scarring on the liver.
During the event, held in partnership with the Hepatitis C Trust, attendees were offered a Fibroscan - a quick, safe and non-invasive test which can detect signs of liver disease immediately.
People also underwent blood-borne virus (BBV) testing - which looks to identify undiagnosed Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV - provided by the Hepatitis C Trust, in collaboration with UHBW’s Hepatitis C Outreach Team.
Sally Tilden, a UHBW Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist who was recently awarded a European Association for the Study of the Liver Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Rising Star Award, led the outreach clinic at The Big Issue.
Sally has helped to spearhead the service and raised awareness across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire about liver disease.
She said: “We’re really trying to destigmatise liver disease as so many people are at risk. The scans give an instant result, and it is great to get out to so many places and do some of the outreach work we do with homeless charities, and organisations which help people with drug and alcohol issues.
“When we go out to places to offer the scans to harder to reach communities, we often see a bigger proportion of people with liver disease who did not know they had it. We can put them on the path to treatment.
“A big thanks to the Big Issue team for their collaboration at the clinic. We hope to work together again in the future to further support our local community.”
The Alright My Liver? service has identified liver disease in the community across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire since it launched in 2022.
More than 7,000 FibroScans have been delivered, with the team committed to providing the clinics in harder to reach communities including rough sleepers and the homeless. If needed, people who are scanned can then be directed to the most appropriate service and those eligible can start receiving treatment.
Hattie Greenyer, Frontline Manager at the Big Issue, said: “A big thank you to the UHBW team for coming into our office to offer liver screening and BBV testing to our vendors. It means a lot to have this kind of support for people who often face barriers to healthcare.
“We really appreciate their time and care, and we’re looking forward to working together again in the future.”
Jane Gitahi, UHBW’s Community Matron and Bristol and Severn Hepatitis C Operational Delivery Network Lead Nurse said: “Liver disease causes 10,000 deaths in the UK, every year. However, most members of the public have no idea they are at risk of liver disease, which is why the Alright My Liver? Service is so important.”
You can find the upcoming Alright My Liver? clinics here or find out to arrange one for your organisation