Wiping Out The Silent Killer: How Drug Services Will Eliminate Viral Hepatitis In The UK

Held on World Hepatitis Day 2016, this one day conference will tell you how UK drug treatment services can and will act, to rid the UK of viral hepatitis by 2030.

Featuring leading cross-sector expertise, this event will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the impact of new treatments, the development of Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs), and the requisite for treatment provision and support in community settings.

Highlighting examples of best practice, delegates will be given a snapshot of how effective treatment and support can be given to advance towards elimination.

Overview

Viral hepatitis is curable.  Hepatitis B can be prevented and hepatitis C can be treated.

Recent advances in medicines for viral hepatitis that work better, have shorter treatment times and are easier on the body have now become available on the NHS.  Regardless of how or when a person became infected, no one deserves to live with a potentially life threatening disease when today’s treatments offer a possible cure.

This year sees the first ever World Health Organization’s Global Elimination Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, which outlines a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

In the UK, drug treatment services are the most important factor in finding, testing and treating people who are affected.  If elimination of viral hepatitis is to be a reality, drug treatment services will be at the very core of offering support to those who need it.

Everyone living with hep C is entitled to the best support and care available. This universal right is underpinned by the NHS Constitution that outlines what all patients should expect in terms of access to health services, quality of care and environment and rights about treatments and drugs.

This is a must-attend event if:

• You want to find out how drug treatment services in the UK will eliminate hepatitis from the UK within the next 14 years

• You want to gain a comprehensive overview on how people should be engaged, tested and treated for viral hepatitis in community settings

• You want to understand the role of drug services in ensuring more people access HCV & HBV care, including identifying common barriers and how to overcome them

• You want to learn about Addaction’s innovative HCV & HBV initiatives, in particular the SW partnership programme with The Hepatitis C Trust

Speakers:

• Raquel Peck - CEO, World Hepatitis Alliance


• Prof Mark Thursz - Prof of Hepatology, Imperial College London


• Rachel Halford - Deputy CEO, The Hepatitis C Trust


• Mick Grant - Patient Advocate


• Tony Gillham - Patient Advocate


• Prof Paul Cosford - Director for Health Protection & Medical Director, PHE


• Dr Magdalena Harris - Qualitative Sociologist, LSHTM


• Dr Emily Finch - Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist, SLaM


• Simon Antrobus - CEO, Addaction

..and more tbc

Who should attend:

Substance Misuse Workers, Senior Managers and Decision Makers, Treatment Funders, Academics and Researchers, Policy Makers, CCG leads, Hepatologists, Specialist Nurses, Addiction Psychiatrists, Service Managers for Viral Hepatitis and Substance Misuse, Specialist Commissioners, Health Protection Agency, SMMGP Leads, Stakeholders from the Private, Statutory and Third Sectors, Public Health England