Research and Workforce Development Project

Chair: Anthony Threlfall

The aims of the Research and Workforce Development Project are:

• To perform high quality research into all aspects of hepatitis C prevention and treatment to reduce the number of new cases of hepatitis C and improve the quality of life and care given to those patients with hepatitis C

• To develop training programmes suitable for all levels of Health Care Professionals who work with people with hepatitis C

• To improve the knowledge base of the wider community within Greater Manchester regarding hepatitis C

• To investigate methods of improving access to healthcare, reduce inequalities in health and improve information systems for the benefit of people with hepatitis C

• To provide a strong evidence base for interventions, prevention strategies and future planning relevant to hepatitis C.

Ongoing projects:

• Development of hepatitis C training programmes for Drug Workers, Specialist Nurses, Prison Workers, Pharmacists, Gastroenterology Consultants, GPs, General Nurses, staff from the voluntary sector and other Professional groups.

• Working with Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to train drug workers across Greater Manchester with the skills to carry out testing for hepatitis C using the dry blood spot testing technology.

• Hepatitis C health care needs assessment across Greater Manchester - The key objectives in undertaking this health needs assessment are to identify the current ‘picture’ of HCV infection within Greater Manchester, estimate the prevalence and incidence of HCV within Greater Manchester, describe current service provision for HCV in Greater Manchester, obtain the views of local service providers regarding current provision and gaps in the service, identify effective evidence based interventions/services to meet needs.

• Health Equity Audit - What are the health inequities due to current provision of Hepatitis C services in Greater Manchester?

• Scoping Research Project for hepatitis C Database - A scoping project examining current databases in use and making recommendations for an integrated database system to help improve care for patients with hepatitis C.

For more information, contact Anthony Threlfall, chair of the Reseach and Workforce Development project anthony.threlfall@gmcbs.nhs.uk