Developing and Expanding a Nurse Led Viral Hepatitis Service for Dorset

1
Developing and Expanding a Nurse Led Viral
Hepatitis Service for Dorset

• 7th UK Hepatitis C Mentoring Conference 2009
• Hazel Allen
• Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Dorset

2
Background

• Service started and treatment for Chronic
  Hepatitis C was first offered in Dorset in 1997
  (12 years ago)
• For 9 years the service was run by one full time
  Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) caring for people
  with Viral Hepatitis in Dorset
• 3 years ago a second full time CNS was seconded
  to work within the service
• 12 months ago the second full time post was made
  permanent and a third full time fixed term post
  was created which will hopefully be made
  permanent in 2010

3
Overview

• Increased screening and diagnosis
• Increased access
• Smooth speedy pathway from diagnosis through to
  treatment
• Improving support for those living with Chronic
  HCV
• Education and increasing knowledge and awareness
• Improved links between community and secondary
  care services
• Future plans for service

4
Increased Screening and Diagnosis

• Supporting Dorset based Blood Borne Virus (BBV)
  Services
• Promoting Dry Blood Spot Testing
• Project with Mental Health Assertive Outreach
  Team

5
Increased Access

• Dorset Hepatitis C Referral Pathway
• Nurse to Nurse Referral,
• and Midwife to Nurse Referral

6
Smooth Speedy Pathway from Diagnosis through to
Treatment

• Dorset Hepatitis C Referral Pathway
• Nurse Led Secondary Care Pathway
• Increased Skills through Training
• 10 Week Wait Times by 2010
• Day Case, Nurse led Liver Biopsy

7
Improving support for those living with Chronic
HCV

• Dorset Based Support Group in conjunction with
  the British Liver Trust
• 24/7 Pharmaceutical Support Line
• Strong Links with
• Voluntary Organisations
• Mainliners
• Hepatitis C Trust
• British Liver Trust

8
Education and increasing knowledge and awareness

• GP meetings
• Regular Educational Updates for Health Care
  Professional

9
Improved links between community services and
secondary care

• Project with Mental Health Assertive Outreach
  Team
• Regular BBV Nurse Meetings. Including Nurses
  working in the Dorset Prison, GUM Services and a
  representative from the local Health Protection
  Agency

10
The Future

• Dorset Prison Clinics
• Community Based Out-reach Clinics
• Treating Current Intravenous Drug Users
• Expert Patient Seminar in Dorset
• Re-auditing Treatment Response Rates