A new survey by the UK’s leading liver health charity reveals that liver disease patients in Wales are diagnosed late and concerned about their care.

In a poll of 249 people living with liver disease in Wales, one in five people said they were diagnosed at a very late stage when there were no or limited treatment options.

Over half (58 per cent) did not feel they were given enough information about their condition when they were diagnosed. Only seven percent were diagnosed because of tests by their GP due to lifestyle factors and twelve percent were diagnosed in hospital.

The British Liver Trust is urging the new Welsh Government to take urgent action to improve liver health and tackle liver disease in Wales.

Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Policy and Communications at the British Liver Trust, said: “In 2015, the Welsh Government led the way by being the first UK country to have a specific plan to address liver health.

“Since then, Wales has made some progress in tackling liver disease, but we know there’s still much more work that needs to be done, as the findings of our survey show.

“With the current plan due to end in in March 2022 and no steps as yet agreed for its future, we’re at risk of losing all of the momentum we’ve gained so far.”

In June, the charity published a report, Sound the Alarm on Liver Disease in Wales: A call to action, which includes ten clear proposals that will develop the work in Wales so far.

The charity is calling for the Welsh Government to:

• Include liver disease as part of general health checks, when checking for other non-communicable diseases.

• Increase access to tier 3 and 4 weight management services across Wales.

• Actively support those suffering the effects of alcohol misuse in Wales, through the statutory backing of 24-7 Alcohol Care Teams in all Health Boards.

• Deliver the ‘Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales’ programme to create an environment where healthier choices are the easiest choices for people in Wales.

• Ensure that effective testing is offered for viral hepatitis to all ‘at-risk’ groups and that Wales meets the WHO 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis C.

• Ensure the successful delivery of the ‘All Wales Liver Disease Pathway’.

• Increase the number of hepatologists; ensuring that patients have access to specialist treatment and support regardless of the geographical area in which they live.

• Every patient with cirrhosis in Wales to have access to a specialist liver nurse, regardless of the geographical area in which they live.

• Improve access to local services and support through better signposting and patient involvement

• Increase the number of referrals for liver transplants in Wales.

The action plan is supported by Consultant Hepatologist Dr Andrew Yeoman at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

“We have made great progress improving liver health across Wales and it is vital that we now build on this success,” he commented.

“I would urge all members of the Senedd and policy makers to turn these recommendations into action so that we can reduce unnecessary liver disease mortality.”