Weston pier will be lit up in purple from 27 July until 2 August to mark World Hepatitis Day 2026.
Clinical outreach teams at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust have been working hard to achieve the WHO goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030 by carrying out extensive hepatitis testing across the South West.
The theme for this year's World Hepatitis Day is “Let’s Break It Down”, focusing on improving awareness, tackling stigma, and increasing testing and access to care. The key message is that, despite having the tools to eliminate hepatitis, low awareness remains a major barrier.
In Bristol and Weston, over 120,000 tests for hepatitis have been carried out in Emergency Departments (EDs) at Bristol Royal Infirmary, Southmead Hospital and Weston General Hospital since October 2024.
This is part of the blood-borne virus (BBV) opt-out testing programme. A scheme where patients in emergency departments are tested for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV, unless they opt out.
The programme has since identified 290 people living with one or more of these viruses who were not previously aware.
Dr Fiona Gordon, Consultant for Hepatology at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and clinical lead for the hepatitis C National Elimination Programme across the Bristol and Severn region said:
“People living with undiagnosed viral hepatitis can develop progressive liver damage or cancer without any symptoms, which are preventable with early intervention.
“This is why testing schemes such as our BBV programme in our Emergency Departments across Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and signposting our populations to home-testing kits are so important.
“We are proud to work towards the WHO Goal of eliminating this viral global health threat through accessible routine screening programmes and ensuring our patients can access specialist treatment if needed.”
An anonymous patient who has benefited from the BBV programme said:
“I found out I was Hep C positive by being tested in the ED. I never injected drugs and can't think of a way this virus has been transmitted … I have just had an end of treatment test, and the virus was undetected.
“If I had not been tested in the ED, I would never have known so I am forever thankful.”
Anonymous, 54, new Hep C diagnosis
Professor Tim Whittlestone, Chief Medical and Innovation Officer of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We’re proud to be offering BBV testing across our EDs, helping thousands of people better understand their health, and when needed, access the care they need.”
Hepatitis B and C are often symptomless, which means there are millions of people who do not know if they have it or not. Treatment is free and accessible on the NHS and can be lifesaving.
The teams are therefore encouraging people who are at risk of Hepatitis C to self-test using the free NHS home-test kits available at https://hepctest.nhs.uk/.
You might want to request a home-test kit if any of the following apply to you:
What are the risk factors for hepatitis?
- If you've ever lived in, or had medical or dental treatment, in a country where hepatitis C is more common
- If you've had a tattoo or piercing with unsterilised equipment, including in prisons or in a non-professional setting
- If you share personal items, such as toothbrushes, scissors and razors
- If your mother had hepatitis C
- If you have experienced a needle stick or sharps injury
- If you live, or have lived, with someone with hepatitis C
- If you've had sex without a condom with someone with hepatitis C (but the chance is low unless it is sexual activity that might expose you to blood)
- If you had a blood transfusion, blood products, or an organ or tissue transplant in the UK before 1996.
- If you've ever used drug paraphernalia, or ever shared injecting equipment for any type of drug
Further information:
- The BBV testing scheme complements the Alright my Liver? community fibroscan project run by Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, which offers free liver scans to people in the wider communities. People are then referred for specialist advice and treatment depending on their scan results.
- For support with Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B, contact The Hepatitis C Trust | Hep C charity.
- Blood-borne virus testing is offered by Bristol NHS Foundation Trust at Bristol Royal Infirmary, Weston General Hospital and Southmead Hospital EDs to everyone over 18-years-old who is having blood taken.