Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration he has given to the development of a national plan to increase the number of people tested for hepatitis C.

A cross-government expert group on viral hepatitis is being established to provide strategic direction and advice around hepatitis C (and other viral hepatitides). This group will be a forum to explore operational and implementation issues and find the best ways to enact our commitments at local, regional and national level. It is anticipated that increasing testing will be considered along with ensuring linkage to care and treatment and provision of prevention services.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines are available to help raise awareness of, and testing for, hepatitis C infection in people at increased risk of infection.

Progress in tackling hepatitis C is summarised in Public Health England’s “Hepatitis C in the UK 2016 report - Working towards its elimination as a major public health threat.”