Countess of Chester Hospital celebrates breakthrough in Hepatitis C micro elimination
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating a milestone moment for health after helping Chester become one of the first areas in the country to effectively eliminate Hepatitis C.
The city has recently achieved official micro-elimination status, meaning the virus has been brought under control in the community for the first time ever since the Hepatitis C Elimination campaign began in 2015, and is no longer a common threat locally.
Although it hasn’t disappeared completely, the number of people with the virus is low enough for it not to be spreading in the way it once did.
The impressive achievement places the borough of Cheshire West and Chester among the first areas in the country to meet national standards set by NHS England and The Hepatitis C Trust, with the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust playing a key role in driving this work during the past three years.
As part of this work, the Trust has been working closely with the Cheshire and Merseyside Operational Delivery Network, supporting local recovery centres to find and treat people with Hepatitis C.
It has also continued to provide treatment within the hospital and taken liver health services out into the community, ensuring that support reaches people who might not otherwise access traditional hospital care.
Much of the treatment’s success is down to the dedicated outreach of Jayne Rose, Community Hepatology Specialist Nurse at the Trust, who has worked closely with local drug and alcohol services and the Cheshire & Merseyside Operational Delivery Network to reach the people most at risk.
Jayne's work made it easier for residents to access testing and treatment, including those who may not regularly use NHS services.
She said: “This has only been possible because of strong partnerships and the willingness of services across Chester to work differently.
"Achieving micro elimination status means we’ve protected people’s health, prevented future illness and shown what’s possible when the community comes together.”
Jonathan Develing, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, added:
“This is an outstanding example of prevention in action and fully aligns with our strategic commitment to improving health outcomes by tackling illness earlier and closer to where people live.
“By moving prevention and care into the community, particularly for people who may not traditionally access hospital‑based services, we are demonstrating exactly how we see the future of healthcare developing.
“It is an extremely proud moment for everyone involved.”
The achievement ties in closely with the Trust’s priorities, showing how a focus on prevention and care within local communities can improve quality and safety while making the most of our resources.
By working in new ways and alongside our partners, the Trust is helping to create smoother, more effective care pathways and reach people who might not otherwise come into hospital.
It also shows how taking services out into the community is changing how care is delivered by improving people’s experiences, reducing avoidable harm and helping the Trust continue to meet the standards expected by regulators and commissioners.
Notes for editors:
- Hepatitis C is a blood‑borne virus that is most commonly spread through sharing unsterilised needles or injecting equipment.
- The virus is highly prevalent among people who inject drugs, with an estimated 50% of this group affected in the UK.
- Additional risks include the use of unsterilised medical or tattoo equipment and sharing personal items that may come into contact with blood, such as razors or toothbrushes.
- Hepatitis C can cause serious illness if left untreated, but often has no symptoms, meaning many people don’t realise they are carrying the virus.
- The result also supports England’s ambition to eliminate Hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030.