Plan
We began by linking up with the Hepatitis C national team and the CGL My recovery Tameside data analysis team, we gathered a list of clients who needed testing/Treatment. This list was exceptionally long and was started over a decade ago!
Our aim was for our patients to experience consistency so they felt comfortable during their journey with us, having a single point of contact for patients within the service who could also liaise and manage clinics with North Manchester worked exceptionally well.
Patients felt supported throughout their treatment journey and this was fed back time and time again both verbally and via emails / text messages.
We made fantastic links with the team from North Manchester hospital and their consultant Dr Villar (see congratulation email below) we arranged monthly treatment clinics and for those who could not attend their clinic we made arrangements so we could store medications to be given on a day they could attend.
We used the Hep C trust outreach team to get our hard-to-reach clients and linked with the prison service to reach our patients their too.
These links provided vital services which allowed individualised care for our patients and encouraged engagement.
Throughout the whole project, communication and excellent links with internal and external services were key. Links we have maintained for over a decade.
Benefits
The one overall outstanding benefit is the health of our patients.
We have successfully tested and treated hundreds of patients potentially saving their lives and a huge cost saving to the NHS.
We have successfully managed to micro-eliminate Hep C within the Tameside area, something we are exceptionally proud of.
A Client quote we have on our clinic wall – “I have never met such caring and nice people who give you emotional support throughout your treatment. Will and Lisa are AMAZING”
Resources/Staff
We needed passion and staff to drive the project forward.
Enthusiasm, communication and a willingness to take on such a project. We needed links with North Manchester, testing equipment and teamwork!
Testing changed from venepuncture to dry blood spot testing which increased our testing numbers dramatically!
We started the service over a decade ago and linked with Dr Villar and his team from North Manchester Hospital, a partnership we still maintain to this day.
We involved clients with drive days and linked with PHE PWID scheme which enabled us to offer £5 vouchers to all clients who were tested.
We strived to not let client drop out of treatment. We did outreach work with the homeless, we drove meds to clients admitted to hospital, we linked with the prison service, we delivered meds to clients homes, we made our service available to clients who missed appointments, we spoke with family members who had concerns.
Tips for others
Any service could benefit from this work, advise would be not to stop once targets are hit. There are so many excellent projects being undertaken.
We are working with Manchester ODN and their needs assessment project, a project to re test all the clients they tested last year.
We, as a service, as mentioned above, are also very excited to be chosen to work with the NHS Liver Cancer Programme, this is a perfect continuation from our Hepatitis work, a huge piece of work but one we are more than happy to undertake, the passion and drive continues….
You can read and download the full project plan HERE