Is the message coming from the Island’s NHS team today on World Hepatitis Day.
Would be believe that around the world, an astonishing one in twelve people are unaware that they’re living with the Hepatitis B or C virus.
If these ‘blood borne viruses’ are left untreated they can cause serious health problems. So, it’s not surprising that the NHS are keen to encourage as many people as possible who might have been at risk of contracting the virus to get checked out.
Who is at risk?
There’s a whole heap of ways that you might have contracted the Hepatitis virus such as; receiving a blood transfusion in the UK prior to 1991, if you were born or received medical treatment in Asia, Africa, South America, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe or the Middle East; if you have had a tattoo or piercing done in unregistered premises or using unsterile equipment; if you inject drugs, including steroids; even if you have pricked yourself on a needle or a sharp object that has been used by someone else you could have been at risk or perhaps come into contact with someone else’s blood through sports. Finally, if you’ve had unprotected sex with anyone known to have Hepatitis B or C you should get checked out.
So how do you go about it? Well as new pilot scheme has just been introduced on the Isle of Wight with the help of nine phramacies across the Island.
They (the full list below) will be working alongside the Island Drug and Alcohol Service (IDAS), to offer free, confidential Hepatitis B and C testing in their practices.
Elaine Baxendale, Deputy Manager for IDAS, said: “Many people are unaware they have Hepatitis which is worrying. The virus can develop slowly, over a period of five, ten or even as long as fifteen years without showing any symptoms. The good news is now anyone who feels they may have been at risk of contracting Hepatitis can visit one of the participating Pharmacies to receive their free, confidential test.”
Get the test
It’s very simple to get tested, it simply requires a finger-prick of blood being taken. Once the blood sample has been taken it takes about three weeks for the results to come through. If the result is positive then you’ll be referred to a specialist liver doctor for treatment.
You can also ask to have the test done at your GP Surgeries or at the Sexual Health Service at St. Mary’s Hospital.
The Pharmacies offering free tests from Tuesday 19 May, are:
· Alliance Pharmacy, Sandown
· Boots Pharmacy, Cowes
· Boots Pharmacy, Ryde
· Boots Pharmacy, Sandown
· Day Lewis Pharmacy, Cowes
· Gibbs and Gurnell, Ryde
· Lloyds Pharmacy, Pyle Street, Newport
· Lloyds Pharmacy, Esplanade, Ryde
· Regent Pharmacy, Shanklin
Kevin Noble, Community Pharmacy Lead for NHS Isle of Wight said: “This pilot project will enable health professionals in the community to identify people on the Island who are living with Hepatitis, in most cases unaware, and help them to get the treatment they need in order to reduce the risk of developing serious health problems. For some people, being able to go to a local Pharmacy for a test is much easier and accessible and will hopefully encourage more to come forward and get themselves checked.”
Image: Bethany King
