News
A Time to Act: Improving Health and Outcomes in Liver Disease
Posted: 20 October 2009
The British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL), together with the British Society of Gastroenterology Liver Section, has today published recommendations to improve delivery of liver services to patients. These recommendations are outlined in the publication, “A Time to Act: Improving Liver Health and Outcomes in Liver Disease”.
The aim of the new recommendations is to advise the Department of Health on ways to improve outcomes of liver disease in the UK.
The document outlines how implementation of the recommendations will:
- Enhance access to good quality healthcare delivery for patients with liver disease, and lead to equity of service delivery
- Enable patients with liver disease to be identified and treated early. This will prevent the development of cirrhosis and decrease the burden of liver cancer and liver failure.
- Provide PCTs and commissioners with nationally agreed standards of healthcare delivery that can be monitored and compared.
- Provide data on the clinical effectiveness of treatments offered.
Liver disease is largely preventable, and yet constitutes the 5th largest cause of death in the UK with a marked increase in liver related mortality since 1970. Patients are presenting and dying with liver disease at an earlier age, with a 5-fold increase in the development of cirrhosis in 35-55 year olds over the last 10 years.
The document is launched at the same time as the Department of Health announce their ‘Liver Strategy’ and the appointment of a National Clinical Director for Liver Services, which BASL welcome.
“We fully support the development of a liver strategy and hope that its implementation will help to stem the rising burden of liver disease as a major killer in the UK.”
Key Recommendations:
1. The provision of liver services in the UK needs to be reviewed and re-structured.
2. There should be a national strategy to address and prevent the development of the three main causes of liver disease:
a. Alcohol induced liver injury
b. Transmission of viral hepatitis
c. Obesity.
3. Primary Care Services need to be involved in the early detection, intervention and management of liver disease.
4. A comprehensive Alcohol Liaison Service across the U.K. should be developed
5. Research into liver disease should be promoted and encouraged in the U.K.
6. A National Clinical Director should be appointed to oversee the development of liver services across the UK.
Kevin Moore, Professor of Hepatology at UCL and Chair of the writing committee, comments:
“This document outlines the professional aspirations of UK adult and paediatric hepatologists who wish to ensure that we develop high quality and cost effective management of liver disease throughout the UK with the aim of improving outcomes of liver disease. Ultimately we believe that high quality liver services lead to cost savings and improved health.”
Click here to download "A Time to Act: Improving Health and Outcomes in Liver Disease"