LORELY BURT MP CALLS FOR ACTION ON HEPATITIS C

10.37.24am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Aug 2007

Today, Solihull MP, Lorely Burt has joined The Hepatitis C Trust in calling on the new Health Minister, Alan Johnson, to tackle hepatitis C in Solihull. Around 0.5% of people in Solihull are living with the disease but do not know that they are infected.

Lorely Burt MP and the Hepatitis C Trust are asking the government for a mass campaign to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage people who have been at risk of infection to get tested.

Commenting on the campaign, Lorely Burt MP said:

"Nearly 500 people in Solihull are infected with hepatitis C, but only 1 in 10 are aware of their status. It is vital that these people are diagnosed so they can undergo treatment before it is too late.

"There is a scandalous lack of public awareness about the disease, even amongst some doctors and nurses. Treatments are more effective if they are started during early stages of the infection so it is vital that people who have been at risk get tested.

"I have joined up with The Hepatitis C Trust to demand that the government take action now to increase public awareness of the disease to ensure that more people in [town] get tested and treated."

The Hepatitis C Trust works to support and inform people affected by the disease as well as raising awareness amongst the wider population. Chief Executive Charles Gore said:

"I am delighted that Mrs Burt has joined our call for a hard hitting, effective campaign to raise awareness of hepatitis C. All too many people in the UK remain undiagnosed, with often fatal consequences.

"At the Trust we have worked with people who have had terrible experiences, such as patients who have received a diagnosis and then died just weeks later.

"In other cases people have been aware of their illness for some time but have not received proper information on how to help their condition.

"The government must tackle this urgent public health problem before it is too late."