Via achieves Hepatitis C micro-elimination across Cheshire West & Chester

Pictured above: Via Cheshire West & Chester team

Via’s drug and alcohol service in Cheshire West & Chester has reached a major public health milestone, with all three local hubs — Chester, Northwich and Ellesmere Port — officially achieving Hepatitis C micro-elimination. 

Micro-elimination means the virus has been effectively controlled and treated within our service community, and that a set of key performance metrics have been achieved. These metrics form the national standard for micro-elimination status and directly align with the national mission to eliminate viral Hepatitis in England by 2030. 

Across the service, staff ensured that: 

• 100% of people in treatment were offered a Hep C test 

• 98-100% of people who currently or previously inject drugs were tested 

• 90% of individuals still at risk were tested within the last 12 months 

• 90% of those diagnosed with Hep C had started treatment 

Together, this means that Cheshire West & Chester, as a whole service area, has collectively met the micro-elimination criteria set by NHS England, The Hepatitis C Trust, and other national drug and alcohol providers. 

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus which, if left untreated, can cause liver damage, that may increase the chances of liver cancer. It often has no symptoms, making testing the best method for advanced disease prevention. Anyone who has ever injected drugs has a higher risk of infection, making drug and alcohol treatment services essential partners in the elimination effort. 

A locally driven and county-wide approach 

The Via team worked closely with each hub to understand local challenges and ensure safe, easy access to testing and treatment. Once each hub had met its micro-elimination targets individually, the service expanded to a coordinated county-wide approach — enabling Cheshire West & Chester to achieve micro-elimination simultaneously and align with the wider Cheshire & Merseyside Operational Delivery Network (ODN). 

Celebrating a collective achievement 

A celebration event will be held on 18 December to recognise the combined efforts of Via staff, NHS partners and Cheshire West & Chester Council colleagues who have contributed to this achievement. Find out more about the event here: Events | Via – Recovery, Community & Awareness 

Professor Helen Bromley, Director of Public Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Achieving Hepatitis C micro-elimination across the borough is something to really shout about. As a Council, we are determined to help young people in our borough have the best start in life, and help all adults live their best lives. Taking such a strong step against a debilitating illness like Hepatitis C is part of achieving this goal. It’s a real testament to the combined efforts of the staff and volunteers at Via, working alongside the Council and NHS partners. We remain committed to maintaining these efforts, making sure residents have fair and easy access to care and continuing to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our communities.” 

David Byrne, Programme Manager for Cheshire and Merseyside Hepatitis Operational Delivery Network: “NHS England’s hepatitis C elimination programme has been internationally recognised for its success in tackling this major public health challenge. Since 2015, around 100,000 people have been treated, leading to a 57% reduction in prevalence and a 40% drop in hepatitis C-related mortality. This achievement has been driven by innovative approaches, including a landmark deal for unlimited access to curative treatments and collaborative delivery models across healthcare settings. Working in close partnership with the NHS, addiction services, and community organisations has been central to reaching vulnerable populations and ensuring equitable access to care. In Cheshire and Merseyside over 4000 patients have received treatment for hepatitis C. The programme demonstrates what is possible when clinical expertise, data-driven strategies, and strong partnerships come together to prevent life-threatening liver disease and cancer.” 

Hannah Barlow, Health and Wellbeing Nurse said: “The Hep C micro-elimination project has shown me how much change is possible when healthcare truly meets people where they are. I’ve worked with clients, many who have faced stigma, trauma, and long journeys with substance use, finally accessing testing and treatment in a way that feels safe, respectful, and free of judgement. When someone diagnosed with or testing positive for Hep C learns they can be cured quickly and without judgement, you can see the relief and hope almost instantly. It has been a privilege to be able to offer a seamless transition and continuous care across the services that support clients. Being part of this project has reminded me that compassionate, accessible nursing care doesn’t just treat illness; it restores dignity and opens the door to recovery. I’m proud to have been a part of that.” 

Alice Wainwright, Senior Recovery Practitioner and Amelia Donnelly, Criminal Justice Outreach Practitioner said: “Since working to achieve micro-elimination, we have seen clients become more aware of the risks of BBVs, being active in asking for testing and have supported clients in successfully completing their treatment. Not only has this allowed for clients to be more health focused and breakdown the barriers to accessing treatment, but we have also seen clients become more trusting and increased willingness to open up about their substance misuse with practitioners. The team at Unity House have worked extremely hard to explore the barriers and concerns clients have around testing, which is evidenced in the achievement of micro-elimination, well done Unity House!” 

David Targett, Area Director at Via said: “Achieving micro-elimination represents a significant effort by everyone involved and required significant multi-agency partnership working. The praise and recognition reflect the strength of the integration of the system and partners working together, which would not have been possible without the people we support engaging in that work. Furthermore, this success emphasises that recovery is multifaceted and must include wider determinants of health – benefiting not only the individuals whose health has been protected, but the communities they live in and society as a whole. I offer my thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in achieving micro-elimination and look forward to maintaining this status in the future.”