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Support, testing and how to refer

Free and confidential home tests for hepatitis C now available via the NHS

The NHS is committed to eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health issue in England, ahead of the World Health Organization goal to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Achieving this ambition is crucial. If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to life-threatening conditions like liver cancer or liver failure. While significant progress is being made to reduce the number of people with hepatitis C, more needs to be done to prevent new infections and reinfections.

Many people across England may have hepatitis C without knowing. Sharing toothbrushes, getting tattoos abroad, having unprotected sexual intercourse and injecting drugs are just some of the ways people can contract hepatitis C. To reach our goal of eliminating hepatitis C we need to get more people testing.

If you are over the age of 18 and live in England, can now order a free and confidential home test for hepatitis C via the NHS. This is an at-home, self-sample test taking a few drops of blood from your finger. If found positive for hepatitis C, you can be treated and cured.

Order a free and confidential home testing kit today: Home - HepC (hepctest.nhs.uk)

GPs

It is possible to obtain a test from your GP, one of the drug and alcohol agencies (linked below), or alternatively you could complete and submit the form below and we will make contact with you to discuss any queries around treatment with a view to making appropriate arrangements for testing in a one of the venues appropriate to you.  A test can take as little as a minute for a finger prick test, to 5-10 minutes for a blood test.  The outcome could be known within a couple of weeks.

Tests are primarily via blood test within GP and hospital settings, and within prisons and drug and alcohol settings a finger-prick test will be offered.

If you already have a positive outcome from a previous test but have not yet enrolled for treatment, please do complete this online form to self refer direct onto treatment. This link will take you to an online form on our UHBW website.


We also have a Peer support network who may be able to assist with attending appointments or collecting medication etc.

Hepatitis C Trust - Community Peer Support Programme

We continue to develop our community peer services and currently our team includes 2 Peer Support Leads, Abi Sellick and Jade King and 10 peer/volunteers working in our Follow Me project.

Follow Me Peer Support

The Follow me projects offers anyone support from the first point of questioning if you need a test through to the end of treatment and beyond.

What we offer:

  • Hep C information
  • Phone support
  • Face to face meetings
  • Appointment reminders
  • Attending with clients to appointments
  • Transport to appointments
  • Medication delivery
  • Home point of care testing

 

Peer to Peer Education

The Hepatitis C Trust run a peer-to-peer education (P2P) program. Peer educators with lived experience of hepatitis C deliver workshops and share their life story which includes the importance of testing and attending clinic appointments. The programme provides key messages about hepatitis C prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care to people accessing drug services, hostels and homeless shelters.

These sessions are frequently run at recovery and engagement services, housing pathways and probation approved premises .These can easily be arranged via the Peer Support Leads.

Contact details:

Abi Sellick

07377030937

abigail.sellick@hepctust.org.uk

Hepatitis C Trust Helpline

020 7089 6221


"It is absolutely brilliant service, very helpful staff and very friendly. Can't wish for better staff." - Patient D, Bristol & Severn Treatment Centre

 


Support contacts 

Hep C trust

The Hepatitis C Trust is the national UK charity for hepatitis C with offices in London and Falkirk. It has been operating since 2001. It is a patient-led and patient-run organisation: most of our board, staff, and volunteers have had hepatitis C and have cleared it after treatment. 

If you would like to talk to someone at the Hepatitis C Trust, please call 020 7089 6221. 
bdp The Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) is a Bristol-based charity here to help you with alcohol and drug problems. 
liver trust  The British Liver Trust support patients and families so they don't have to face liver disease alone.
turning point Turning Point work with people who need support with their drug and alcohol use, mental health, offending behaviour, unemployment issues and people with a learning disability. They aim to inspire and empower them to discover new possibilities in their lives.
With You We Are With You (formally Addaction) is one of the UK's leading mental health, drug and alcohol charities. They work with adults and young people, in community settings, in prisons, in residential rehab and through outreach.
dhi Developing Health and Independence is a local charity that was set up in 1999 to help people out of the cycle of homelessness, social isolation and drug or alcohol abuse.
Terrence Higgins Trust

The UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity. They support people living with HIV and amplify their voices, and help the people using their services to achieve good sexual health.