Partnership celebrates 'momentous' event

Healthcare professionals gathered for a special meeting to mark a significant milestone in the fight against a chronic disease in Blackpool.

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The event was attended by more than 50 nurses and health professionals who gathered to celebrate the impact of a health partnership working in achieving micro-elimination of hepatitis C in the resort.

The hep C micro-elimination programme started around 18 months ago, when services across the resort - including the NHS, Hepatitis C Trust, Gilead Sciences and Blackpool Council's Horizon service - began working to test and treat high-risk people within the Blackpool area.

Horizon's clinical lead, Emma Macfarlane, said: "It was wonderful to see so many of our partners coming together today to celebrate this wonderful achievement at Horizon.

"We've worked so hard over the last 18 months to ensure all our service users at risk of hepatitis C have been offered a test and the opportunity to access lifesaving treatment if they need it."

As a town, Blackpool had the highest rates of hepatitis C outside of London, and previously only 22 per cent of people at risk has been tested.