The Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery (ROAR) service set out to complete a high rate of testing, treatment initiation, and treatment completion within the population it serves.
It achieved micro-elimination by meeting four targets set out by the NHS, which are 100 per cent of people using the service have been offered a Hepatitis C test; 98 per cent of those with a history of injecting have been tested, 90 per cent of these people have then been tested in the last 12 months and 90 per cent of people who were diagnosed with Hepatitis C have started treatment.
Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that damages the liver. Over time, persistent infection can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. Globally, Hepatitis C causes around 290,000 deaths and 1.5 million new infections each year.
Injecting drug use (previous or current) continues to be the most important risk factor for Hepatitis C infection in the UK.
Substance use services provide free Dried Blood Spot Tests (DBST) a simple, minimally invasive procedure used to test for blood-borne viruses (BBVs) such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.
Ahmed (not real name) said the support he received from staff at Turning Point was a reason why he successfully completed treatment for Hepatitis C.
“The nurses were lovely – very caring, very positive, understanding, always gave me good advice and never gave up on me,” he said.
“I didn’t do the treatment properly twice before, but they still engaged with me and managed to treat me for Hep C.
“I was very happy that my treatment was at Turning Point and not at the hospital as I had my keyworker there to support me throughout my treatment.
“I would 100 per cent recommend anyone that is still positive for Hep C to start treatment and do it properly by taking the medication daily as prescribed.”
Ahmed had no side effects from the medication and said he now has more energy and is sleeping better after the treatment.
“God bless the nurses and my keyworker!” he added.
Councillor Daalat Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health said:
"Achieving micro-elimination of Hepatitis C is fantastic news for us and an important milestone in our efforts to reduce long-term illnesses in the borough. It is also further proof of how effective our cooperative partnership with Turning Point continues to be.
“By working together Turning Point and Rochdale Borough Council are ensuring that healthcare reaches the most vulnerable in our society."
Kathleen Livsey, Operations Manager at Rochdale, said:
“We are proud to announce that Rochdale has successfully reached micro-elimination. This is a testament to the hard work of the staff team and the relationships we have with our service users. We have been able to educate people on the Micro-elimination journey and its purpose.
“We achieved micro-elimination in Oldham last August and this latest success shows what is possible when we combine compassion, innovation and determination - it gives us real momentum for the future and maintaining micro-elimination within our service.’’
Jake Costello, Turning Point’s blood-borne viruses (BBVs) Development Manager, said:
“I am extremely proud of the teams' efforts ensuring some of the county's most vulnerable people easily access testing and treatment for Hepatitis C. Collaborative and person-centred care has allowed us to achieve this target.”