Toolkit for improving early detection of liver disease pathways

The British Liver Trust would like the support of senior clinicians to advocate for effective pathways for the early detection of liver disease. This toolkit has been developed to support this activity.

A key policy campaign of the British Liver Trust is the ‘make early diagnosis of liver disease routine’ campaign which aims to better understand existing primary care pathways for liver disease and influence commissioning bodies to implement effective early detection pathways across the UK. This toolkit is crucial to the success of this campaign.

The toolkit explains to Integrated Care Boards and Health Boards what the problem is, what are the risks of not tackling growing liver disease rates, what is the solution and why an effective pathway for the early detection of liver disease is the best solution. The toolkit also includes exemplars of diagnostics options that can be included in the pathway.

Toolkit

Examples of best practice early detection liver disease pathways – We recognise that every Integrated Care Board or Health Board is at a different stage in developing and managing their liver disease primary care pathways. We have produced a list of examples of possible approaches to implement full pathways for the early detection and management of liver disease. It also includes condition specific pathway exemplars and suggested pro-active case finding of high-risk individuals approaches.

Briefing on the evidence behind introducing an early detection pathway – This document sets out what is the problem, the risk of in-action and how early detection of liver disease improves outcomes.

Example business cases – We are keen for we are keen for services to share their business cases which can be used as a template for others to follow. If you have a business case that helped to develop your early detection pathway please send it to: policy@britishlivertrust.org.uk

Example business case for FibroScan in Community Diagnostic Centres.

When making the case for an early detection pathway its important to understand the local population needs. There is a wealth of supporting data and profiles including: The Office of Health Improvements and Disparities’ (OHID) Liver Disease Profiles; The Scottish Public Health Observatory’s chronic liver disease data; the Welsh Government’s Quality Statement for Liver Disease and OHID’s Obesity Profiles etc.

Algorithm and Full Guidance for Interpreting Abnormal Liver Blood Tests or LFTs – These guidelines on the management of abnormal liver blood tests have been commissioned by the Clinical Services and Standards Committee (CSSC) of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) under the auspices of the liver section of the BSG with input from a wide number of groups including the RCGP and the British Liver Trust.

Local press release template – This template document can be completed and shared with local press to announce when a full pathway has been implemented.