As the death rates from cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory disease and strokes have decreased year on year since 1970, the same years have seen a rise in deaths from liver disease.
The vast majority of liver-related morbidity and mortality is preventable. The National Quality Board has therefore set up a national liver disease strategy group, which aims to improve the prevention, identification, treatment, care and support for people with liver disease from diagnosis to end-of-life care.
It underlines the need for planned and integrated services across health and social care to deliver, based on the needs of individuals, and to support people living independently in the community with a good quality of life.
It is vital that primary care has a voice in any decisions that are made and therefore I am appealing for your support. We want to have a broad range of GPs involved throughout the country.
The commitment would not be great and all travel and locum fees will be reimbursed. We are looking at having two meetings a year with other consultations taking place by email and conference call. For more information email johnomalley@nhs.net.
From Dr John O'Malley, GP in Heswall, Wirral, and chair of the primary care group, National Liver Strategy
