Announcement of the passing of Neil Batten

It is with deep sadness that The Hepatitis C Trust announces the recent death of our beloved colleague Neil Batten.

Our sincere condolences are with all his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

Neil was the Prison Peer Coordinator for the East Midlands for five years at The Hepatitis C Trust.

Sean Cox, Director of Prisons, said: “Neil was so passionate about his work. He dedicated so much of his time to help those affected by hepatitis C in prison and in the community. He was very much loved by all of his colleagues and the people he supported in prisons had nothing but respect for him.

“Over the years Neil represented The Hepatitis C Trust at many events and conferences sharing his story and encouraging people to get tested. Neil never gave up on the patients who were scared to get tested or treated. He was the first person we would go to if we had a patient who was hard to engage with. His work will live forever in our memories.”

Neil sadly lost his life to liver cancer because of hepatitis C, which had gone undiagnosed for decades.

Before his passing, Neil was able to share his story on film, something he was determined to do to help share the message of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

We are so grateful to his family for allowing us to share his final message with the world.