Untreated hepatitis virus C (HCV) infection can progress to liver disease, liver cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Direct-acting antiviral agents are highly effective treatments for HCV infection. The Addiction Recovery Community in Hounslow (ARC Hounslow), England, conducted a nurse-led project to eliminate HCV in the local area. The number of people undergoing HCV testing and the number of those receiving HCV treatment increased. As a result, the service reached HCV micro-elimination in April 2023. This has been achieved through leadership, teamwork, innovative ways of working and partnership working. To engage service users, it was crucial to treat them with dignity and respect, build trust and develop therapeutic relationships with them. The project could be replicated by other teams, which would contribute to the goal of eliminating HCV across the UK.

Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2024.e1834

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Conflict of interest

None declared

Moyo-Hlahla EL (2024) Reducing health inequalities for marginalised populations by improving access to hepatitis C virus testing and treatment. Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2024.e1834

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr Dima Abdulrahim, quality lead – addictions at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, for her support, advice and guidance on this article, as well as Darja Golob, data and performance lead at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, for her significant contribution to this project. The author would also like to thank ARC Hounslow colleagues, service users and partner organisations who made it possible to achieve hepatitis C virus micro-elimination

Published online: 25 September 2024