Late diagnosis of liver disease is costing far too many lives

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, has pledged his support for the British Liver Trust after learning that more than 90 per cent of liver disease is preventable if caught on time.

The former Shadow health and social care spokesman attended the Parliamentary launch of the Make Early Diagnosis of Liver Disease Routine campaign which aims to significantly improve early detection of liver disease in the UK.

The campaign is a result of research carried out by the British Liver Trust which found that only one in four health areas in the UK (26 per cent) have an effective pathway in place for diagnosing people with a liver condition. The revelation is in sharp contrast to other chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease where patients receive standardised care.

Mr Madders said: “I am happy to lend my support to this good cause. I was told deaths due to liver disease have more than doubled in the last 20 years and that the condition kills over 10,000 people every year.

“With up to three quarters of people diagnosed with cirrhosis at crisis point, when it’s too late for effective treatment, I’m pledging support for @LiverTrust’s campaign to #MakeEarlyDiagnosisofLiverDiseaseRoutine.”

Pamela Healy OBE, British Liver Trust chief executive, said: “Late diagnosis is costing the lives of thousands of men and women each year as three quarters of people with cirrhosis are diagnosed in hospital when it is too late for them to have life-saving treatment. 

“We launched our campaign in Parliament to call for urgent action to stop this silent killer in its track and are calling on the Government to work with health services to make early diagnosis of liver disease routine by ensuring that a systematic pathway is commissioned and implemented in these areas and that this is evaluated on a regular basis.”

Pictured - Justin Madders MP with Vanessa Hebditch, British Liver Trust director of communications and policy.