thisisnottingham.com
Extra nurses to treat and test hepatitis C are set to start work in Nottingham.
The three workers will work with hospitals and health centres to tackle the condition – which can lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis if left unchecked.
Nottingham is also one of the first areas of the country to test patients for the disease using a pin prick on the finger.
Current blood tests can be difficult to carry out on hepatitis C sufferers as their veins are often damaged by injecting drugs.
Caroline Jordan, senior nurse for public health at Nottingham City NHS, said: "By doing that we will be able to test more people – a finger-prick is easier than getting blood from a vein."
It comes as the Department of Health starts a campaign to reach out to the 100,000 people nationwide who do not know they have the condition.
A survey carried out in the East Midlands showed that 37% of people in the region are unaware of how the disease is spread. People could have been exposed by injecting drugs or getting tattoos where equipment may not have been sterile.
There are an estimated 1,100 hepatitis C sufferers in Nottingham.
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: "It can take years or even decades for symptoms to appear, if at all, and if left untreated can lead to liver damage and premature death.
"Fortunately, effective treatment is available, so it's vital that people who may have been at risk of infection seek medical advice and get tested."
Part-time lecturer Nick Green, from Long Eaton, was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2004 after suffering years of liver complaints.
The 46-year-old does not know where he contracted the disease but suffered cirrhosis of the liver because of the time spent with it. He underwent a year of treatment and was given the all-clear last year – the same time he heard he was to become a father for the first time.
Mr Green said: "Initial research into the virus scared me and it took time to come to grips with the gravity of my condition. My friends and family have been great and never made assumptions or showed prejudice of any kind."
Nottingham is said to have a higher level of hepatitis C sufferers than the national average because of the high number of intravenous drug users.
Health officials say anyone with concerns about hepatitis C should visit one of the city's GPs. – who are getting extra training about dealing with the condition. For more information visit www.nhs.uk/hepc or call the Hepatitis C Information Line on 0800 1814114.
robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
