Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure that currently under-served groups, such as people who inject drugs and those in prisons, are included in the elimination plan for hepatitis C.

A variety of initiatives are underway in England to improve awareness and case finding, re-engagement and linkage to care, especially in drug services, primary care, prisons and accident and emergency centres. In addition, NHS England is funding access to new hepatitis C treatments in accordance with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

As part of health services commissioned for those in detained settings, NHS England has rolled out an ambitious Opt-Out Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) testing programme. The key aim is to improve uptake rates for hepatitis C testing by the introduction of good practice for ‘meaningful offer’ of BBV testing across the adult prison estate. In this programme appropriately trained staff offer prisoners a BBV testing on an opt-out basis within 72 hours of reception in accordance with published national guidance, with referral to specialists for assessment for treatment (which can be delivered in prison or on release). This programme has been embedded across the secure estate from April 2018.

The creation of 22 operational delivery networks in England to drive improvements in treatment in local areas is intended to give all patients the access to the treatment they need regardless of where they live.