Liver Diseases: Health Services

(asked on 1st February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the systems for diagnosing and providing early treatment for liver disease in operation in the NHS in (a) Wales and (b) England; if he will make it his policy to bring England's liver disease services in line with those in Wales; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Maria Caulfield Portrait
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
This question was answered on 14th March 2022

NHS England is prioritising all causes of liver disease and mortality, improving the early diagnosis of cancer diagnosis and increased liver surveillance, particularly among patients experiencing multiple health inequalities. Since 2015/16, over 65,000 treatments have been provided to cure hepatitis C, a significant cause of hepatocellular carcinoma and end stage liver disease. Between 2015 and 2020, hepatitis C related mortality has reduced by 20%.

No comparative assessment has been made of services in Wales as this is a devolved matter.

Reticulating Splines