To coincide with World Hepatitis Day 2019 on Sunday 28 July, Public Health Wales has released new figures that show a sustained increase in testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in prisons in Wales.
In November 2016, Welsh Government released a Welsh Health Circular introducing opt-out testing for blood borne viruses across prisons in Wales. Since then the number of individuals tested in Welsh prisons has increased year on year.
In 2018, 3888 individuals were tested, representing 44.4% of the prison population.
Specialist treatment services are now available within each prison in Wales meaning patients can go from test to treatment without needing to leave the prison.
Public Health Wales and the Welsh Government are committed to the World Health Organisation target of eliminating Hepatitis C as a public health threat in Wales by 2030.
Those in prison are considered a high risk group for hepatitis C and therefore testing, early diagnosis and treatment of those in prison will make a significant contribution towards the elimination of hepatitis C in Wales.
Dr Stephanie Perrett, Lead Nurse for Health and Justice at Public Health Wales said: “Prison healthcare services in Wales have worked hard to improve the numbers of people being tested and the latest figures demonstrate this. There remain opportunities for improvement and we want to consider new approaches to embed testing in the prison setting”.
“Partnership working across health and justice agencies will help us achieve elimination of hepatitis C infections in prisons and more widely across Wales.”
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus affecting the liver which, left untreated, can cause liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. New medications have revolutionised treatment of hepatitis C so that it is now curable in 9 out of 10 people when treated early.
Hepatitis C can be spread through blood to blood contact including through use of contaminated injecting equipment in recreational drug use.
More information on hepatitis is available here: