I was delighted to attend the British Liver Trust’s awareness day in Parliament and show my support for their campaign highlighting the importance of early diagnosis of liver disease.
9 in 10 cases of liver disease are preventable and are linked to alcohol, excess weight and viral hepatitis. If caught at an early-stage liver damage can often be reversed.
In Derbyshire, we are fortunate that our own local Integrated Care System is categorised as green, indicating that an effective pathway is in place for the early detection and management of liver disease.
There are many ways for Erewash residents to reduce their risk of developing liver disease and cancer, examples include avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising frequently and protecting their self against viral hepatitis.
Rest assured, I will continue to raise awareness of liver disease in Parliament. Last year in a Parliamentary debate on Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease, I called on the Government to rapidly expand FibroScan (liver scan) to all Community Diagnostic Centres across the country.
I also visited a liver unit at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and met the team that are doing a fantastic job delivering exceptional specialist care to people with a range of liver conditions.
More information about liver disease can be found on the British Liver Trust’s website here.