Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement, NHS England sets out plans to be first in the world to eliminate Hepatitis C, published on 29 January, what (a) discussions he has had with and (b) support he plans to provide to the NHS in relation to those plans.

The United Kingdom Government is a signatory to the World Health Assembly resolution and World Health Organization goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat by 2030. NHS England, the Department and Public Health England are working together across the system in range of relevant settings to deliver this goal.

To drive equitable access to new direct acting antivirals drugs which can cure hepatitis C, NHS England has developed 22 Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs), led by a lead National Health Service provider trust with a specialist clinical lead. ODNs are the structures through which both case finding of undiagnosed patients and hepatitis C treatment are delivered in England.

NHS England has employed financial and human resources to assist healthcare services to improve and increase diagnosis and access to treatment.

Public Health England has developed materials with a range of stakeholders, including third sector providers, to help raise awareness of hepatitis C infection and highlight the need for those at risk to seek testing and treatment.