"Public health time bomb" - Stunell

11.44.51am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Jul 2006

Local MP calls for greater focus in Stockport on hepatitis C

This week in Westminster, Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell has spoken out to urge Primary Care Trusts to implement the Department of Health's Action Plan to improve hepatitis C services. His plea follows an audit that shows only 8% of Primary Care Trusts have taken effective action to improve hepatitis C services since the Action Plan was published two years ago.

Commenting on the report, Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell said:

"Hepatitis C is a public health time bomb and needs addressing now. It is unacceptable that so many PCTs are ignoring the scale of the problem.

"I am very disappointed to hear that Stockport PCT didn't respond to the audit. I have contacted the Trust's Chief Executive to find out why and to ensure that hepatitis C services in Stockport receive the priority they deserve."

The audit was conducted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hepatology and the Hepatitis C Trust. ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that primarily attacks the liver.

2. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests that up to 500,000 people may be infected in England and Wales. Currently less than 50,000 have it diagnosed and access to treatment is uneven.

3. For more details about the audit, or about Hepatitis C, please call Charles Gore or Rebecca Moses at The Hepatitis C Trust on 0207 0896220.