Hepatitis C nurse specialists are a vital resource for patients undergoing treatment for the disease. As a blood borne virus that primarily attacks the liver and can lead cirrhosis, severe and potentially fatal liver disease and cancer, it is important that the estimated 250,000 - 466,000 people with hepatitis C in the UK are diagnosed and complete treatment in order to protect their own health and reduce transmission risks. Current treatments for hepatitis C can cure the virus in between 50-80% of cases but involve a gruelling, 6-12 month course of injections and pills with side-effects similar to chemotherapy. Callers to our helpline cite the care and support of hepatitis C nurse specialists as being critical to their being able to complete treatment.
Hepatitis C nurse specialists provide invaluable medical, practical and emotional support. The availability of hepatitis C nurses to provide support if a patient breaks or loses an injecting needle, or experiences serious side effects they do not understand, is key to treatment compliance. Many nurses give out pager or mobile phone numbers for patients to call, often 24/7. We believe that if the numberof hepatitis C specialist nurses falls, so will successful treatment and cure, endangering patient health and wasting NHS funds. By administering treatment and providing medical advice to patients, hepatitis C nurse specialists save countless hours of expensive consultant appointments.
Hepatitis C nurses provide critical medical support for patients undergoing treatment. Not only this, but they save money through reducing consultant hours and preventing waste of resources through uncompleted treatment.
The Hepatitis C Trust wholeheartedly supports RCN’s campaign to protect frontline nursing posts.
Source: http://frontlinefirst.rcn.org.uk
