Hepatology at Luton and Dunstable Hospital

The Hepatology service is dedicated to the care and management of patients with a wide variety of liver-related disorders, in both the in-patient and out-patient settings.

The service offers:

• Consultant-led Liver clinics on Tuesday & Wednesday mornings
• A viral hepatitis service
• A nurse-led hepatitis C treatment clinic on Tuesday mornings & afternoons, and Thursday mornings
• There is close integration with the tertiary /transplant services at Addenbrooke's Hospital, including liver cancer & liver transplant MDTs, radiological meetings and histopathological services
• Joint clinics every 3 months with Addenbrooke's for assessment and management of patients prior to liver transplantation and long-term follow-up post transplantation
• Joint clinic every 4-6 months with GUM team for patients with co-infection with HIV and chronic viral hepatitis
• Links with local alcohol services to provide a comprehensive approach to the management of patients with alcohol dependency

Contact details

Hepatology Department: 01582497508  Viral Hepatitis Nurse : 07775030970 
Fax: 01582565439   

The service is dedicated to the care and management of patients diagnosed with acute and chronic liver disease such as;

• Alcohol liver disease
• Hepatitis B patients: HBsAg detected
• Hepatitis C patients: HCV antibody detected and HCV RNA detected (PCR positive) if unsure refer if patient is HCV antibody positive
• Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD and NASH)
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Metabolic disorders (haemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, alpha1- antitrypsin deficiency)
• Unexplained abnormal liver function tests or unexplained jaundice
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

If patients are being referred please ensure Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) screen (see hep C management flowchart below for full list) and liver ultrasound scan are performed.

See hepatitis C patient referral pathway.

In addition, for a patient being referred for either hepatitis B or C please ensure the following tests are done:

HCV- HCV RNA viral load, genotype.

HBV- HBV viral load.

• People who test Hepatitis C antibody positive but PCR negative (if no record of previous PCR test, please retest)
• People who test hepatitis B surface antigen negative but core antibody positive (HBsAg -ve, HBcAb +ve)- past exposure, naturally cleared
• People who do not wish to be referred

Government Hepatitis C- Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_093847.pdf

Government Hepatitis C- Patient leaflets
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093850

British liver Trust
http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk

Hepatitis C trust UK
http://www.hepctrust.org.uk