20/10/2009
National Liver Strategy Announced
The Department of Health has announced plans to recruit a new National Clinical Director to lead the development of a National Strategy for tackling liver disease.
Liver disease is the fifth most common cause of death in England. The growth in the disease is largely fuelled by lifestyle factors, such as excessive drinking and obesity, and it currently costs the NHS £460 million a year.
The department has announced plans to recruit a National Clinical Director in the next few months to develop a strategy to effectively combat liver disease and oversee its implementation.
Health Minister Ann Keen said: "Liver disease is the only one of the top five causes of death which is continuing to affect more people every year at an increasingly young age. We know that by identifying people earlier, encouraging people to change their behaviour and making sure the right services are in the right place, we can improve the quality of care and stop the rise in this disease.
"By appointing a National Clinical Director to oversee the development of a strategy we will ensure that clinical evidence and outcomes for patients are at the heart of our work to improve the quality of services to tackle liver disease."
The average death from liver disease is 59, compared to 82 for heart disease and 84 for stroke. The disease is largely preventable and can be treated if diagnosed sufficiently early.
Obesity is a rising cause of the disease, with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) becoming a growing concern amongst liver specialists.
Professor Rajiv Jalan, Secretary of the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL), welcomed the government's announcement. Professor Jalan said: "We are concerned about the growing impact of liver disease. We look forward to working with the National Clinical Director and Department of Health to ensure that the strategy delivers the changes that we need."
(KMcA/BMcC)
Liver disease is the fifth most common cause of death in England. The growth in the disease is largely fuelled by lifestyle factors, such as excessive drinking and obesity, and it currently costs the NHS £460 million a year.
The department has announced plans to recruit a National Clinical Director in the next few months to develop a strategy to effectively combat liver disease and oversee its implementation.
Health Minister Ann Keen said: "Liver disease is the only one of the top five causes of death which is continuing to affect more people every year at an increasingly young age. We know that by identifying people earlier, encouraging people to change their behaviour and making sure the right services are in the right place, we can improve the quality of care and stop the rise in this disease.
"By appointing a National Clinical Director to oversee the development of a strategy we will ensure that clinical evidence and outcomes for patients are at the heart of our work to improve the quality of services to tackle liver disease."
The average death from liver disease is 59, compared to 82 for heart disease and 84 for stroke. The disease is largely preventable and can be treated if diagnosed sufficiently early.
Obesity is a rising cause of the disease, with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) becoming a growing concern amongst liver specialists.
Professor Rajiv Jalan, Secretary of the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL), welcomed the government's announcement. Professor Jalan said: "We are concerned about the growing impact of liver disease. We look forward to working with the National Clinical Director and Department of Health to ensure that the strategy delivers the changes that we need."
(KMcA/BMcC)
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