Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP becomes new Parliamentary Champion

Co-ordinated by The Hepatitis C Trust, the Hepatitis C Parliamentary Champions are made up of a cross-party selection of MSPs with the aim of ensuring that hepatitis C stays firmly on the political agenda in Scotland. By working together with The Hepatitis C Trust, the Champions ensure that the best interests of people with hepatitis C in Scotland are represented in the Scottish Parliament.
The Champions include MSPs from the SNP, Conservatives, Labour and the Greens, and The Hepatitis C Trust is delighted to announce that Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has now agreed to become our latest Champion, meaning that there is now at least one Champion from every party in the Scottish Parliament.
Alex, who is the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson, was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May as the MSP for Edinburgh Western, and previously worked for a range of children’s charities. On his announcement as a Parliamentary Champion, he said:
“I am delighted to become a Hepatitis C Parliamentary Champion. Hepatitis C is a serious public health and health inequalities issue in Scotland, yet it is one that sometimes suffers from a lack of public and political awareness. I am committed to doing what I can to increase awareness, as well as to support efforts to test, diagnose and treat all people with the virus in Scotland. We really can eliminate hepatitis C, and I am looking forward to playing my part in the fight to do so.”
Petra Wright, The Hepatitis C Trust’s Scottish Officer, said:
“We are extremely grateful to Alex for agreeing to become our latest Parliamentary Champion, particularly as it means that our Parliamentary Champions now span the entire political spectrum in Scotland. They have a hugely important role to play in helping us increase awareness of the virus and encourage efforts to test and treat everyone with hepatitis C in Scotland, and they’re vital as we continue our journey towards elimination.”