11:50am Friday 22nd February 2008
By Jane Lavender
CARE for patients in Bolton suffering from the killer disease hepatitis C is among of the best in the country.
A national audit has revealed Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) has received one of the highest ratings nationally - scoring nine out of 10.
The PCT has given guidance to GPs in Bolton on how to spot people who could be at risk of the disease, how to test for it and how to counsel patients who have been diagnosed.
Patients with the disease are transferred to either Manchester Royal Infirmary or North Manchester General following an appointment with doctors at the Royal Bolton Hospital and are seen within four weeks.
There are also plans in place to pay for extra medical staff in Bolton to allow patients to be treated within the borough.
Work is also being carried out with the drugs service in Bolton - intravenous drug users are the highest risk group - to ensure staff can warn people of the risks and refer them for treatment.
Graham Munslow, public health specialist at Bolton PCT, said: "I'm glad we have been given such a high rating, but all we've done is follow the recommended guidance from the Department of Health. This is only the tip of the iceberg with hepatitis C.
"There is a real lack of awareness, but we are campaigning to change that because it can affect anyone."
A campaign was launched in Bolton this week, using posters featuring the face of former teacher Susan Wright, aged 50, from Deane, who was left with serious liver damage after contracting the disease.
The high rating Bolton received in the audit, carried out by MPs and Peers, has been praised by Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon and Gordon Roddick, the husband of the late Dame Anita Roddick - founder of the Body Shop - who died of the disease.
Dr Iddon said: "I'm delighted Bolton PCT is at the top of the league table. There are up to 500,000 people living with hepatitis C in the UK, but only one in eight of these people have been diagnosed."
Mr Roddick said: "I know from experience how important it is for hepatitis C patients to get specialist support, really good information and proper referral to a hospital that can offer prompt treatment, wherever that is appropriate.
"Their families need good information too. I'm delighted that at last a significant number of patients are getting the care they need."
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