Useful links

Helpful information and resources

We provide as much information as we can to support those affected by a liver condition. If you haven’t yet visited our support section or our pages for specific liver conditions then do have a look.

The lists on this page are additional resources that may be of help.

Please be aware that although British Liver Trust provides links to other information we are not responsible for the accuracy of information on sites we do not manage and by providing a link are not necessarily giving any endorsement of that site

Thanks again for the support of the British Liver Trust, particularly at a time when I learnt I had cirrhosis of the liver and I wouldn’t survive without a transplant. I was lucky, I got that transplant. But that particular time the information provided by the charity cut through a lot more frightening information I was finding on the web.

Mike, a Facebook fundraiser

Want to know more?

Visit our 'Liver conditions' section


Read more

We have a range of information on living with specific liver conditions, click above to find out more.

In this section

NHS services

Urgent NHS Enquiries

England

NHS 111 (England)
Web: nhs urgent care enquiries
24 hour health advice.

Wales

NHS Direct (Wales)
Web: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk 
24 hour health advice.

Scotland

NHS 24 (Scotland)
Web: www.nhs24.scot
24 hour health advice.

Northern Ireland

NI Direct (Northern Ireland)
Web: www.nidirect.gov.uk
24 hour health advice.

Complaints & concerns about NHS services

England

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) England and Wales
Web: www.nhs.uk
Available in all NHS trust hospitals to provide patients with information about the NHS; resolve concerns or problems when using the NHS; provide information about the NHS complaints procedure and how to get independent help if you decide you may want to make a complaint; provide information and help introduce you to agencies and support groups outside the NHS.

NHS Complaints Service – England
Web: www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/complaints-and-feedback
Provides advice to patients and their carers wishing to pursue a complaint about their NHS treatment or care.

Wales

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) England and Wales
Web: www.nhs.uk
Available in all NHS trust hospitals to provide patients with information about the NHS; resolve concerns or problems when using the NHS; provide information about the NHS complaints procedure and how to get independent help if you decide you may want to make a complaint; provide information and help introduce you to agencies and support groups outside the NHS.

NHS Complaints Service – Wales
Web: http://www.wales.nhs.uk
‘Putting Things Right’ is the complaints service in Wales if someone would like to pursue a complaint about NHS Wales. Please see: for the procedure to pursue complaints.

Llais 

Web: https://www.llaiswales.org/have-your-say/advice-and-information

Information, advice, and help with accessing services in your area.

Scotland

Patient Advice and Support Service Scotland
Web: https://www.cas.org.uk
Free, confidential, & independent advice & support for patients of the NHS in Scotland. Run through Citizens Advice in Scotland.

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
Web: www.spso.org.uk
The SPSO is the final stage for complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland.

Northern Ireland

Patient and Client Council Northern Ireland
Web: www.patientclientcouncil.hscni.net
The Patient and Client Council will assist in making complaints about any part of health and social care in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Ombudsman
Web: https://nipso.org.uk
The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman investigates complaints about possible maladministration in the delivery of public services. It is the final stage for comlaints not previously resolved with the individual’s Health Board

General information regarding NHS services

NHS Choices

Web: www.nhs.uk 
Advice on all aspects of NHS services including carers benefits and changing your GP.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)

Web: www.nice.org.uk 
NICE is the NHS body responsible for producing national guidance on health technologies and treatments. NICE assesses technologies for their clinical and cost-effectiveness. Once it has recommended a medicine, the NHS is obliged to make it available for patients.

Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)

Web: www.scottishmedicines.org.uk
SMC are the national source of advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of all new medicines for NHS Scotland. Their aim is to ensure that people in Scotland have timely access to medicines that provide most benefit based on best available evidence.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Web: www.ombudsman.org.uk
If a patient is not happy with how an NHS trust responds to their complaint, they can ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to look into their case.

The Local Government Ombudsman

Web: www.lgo.org.uk
If you have made a complaint about social care and are not happy with the response from your local care service, you can ask the Local Government Ombudsman to look at the complaint.
Liver and Transplant Units
England

Liver & Transplant Units

Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ
Telephone: 0122 324 5151
www.cuh.org.uk

Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN
Telephone: 0191 233 6161
www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk

King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
Telephone: 020 3299 9000
www.kch.nhs.uk

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH
Telephone: 0121 627 2000
www.uhb.nhs.uk

Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG
Telephone: 020 7794 0500                      www.royalfree.nhs.uk

St James’ University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF                          Telephone: 0113 243 3144             www.leedsteachinghospitals.com

Liver Units

Arrowe Park Hospital, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside CH49 5PE
Telephone: 0151 678 5111
www.wuth.nhs.uk

Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS2 8HW
Telephone: 0117 923 0000
www.uhbristol.nhs.uk

Broadgreen Hospital, Thomas Drive, Liverpool L14 3LB
Telephone: 0151 706 2000
www.rlbuht.nhs.uk

Countess of Chester Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1UL
Telephone: 01244 365000
www.coch.nhs.uk

Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth PL6 8HD
Telephone: 0845 155 8155
www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk

Frimley Park Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Frimley GU16 7UJ
Telephone: 01276 604604
 www.fhft.nhs.uk

Furness General Hospital, Dalton Lane, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 4LF
Telephone: 01229 870870
www.uhmb.nhs.uk

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN
Telephone: 0300 422 2222
www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk

Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ
Telephone: 01482 328541
www.hey.nhs.uk

John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU
Telephone: 01865 741166
www.ouh.nhs.uk

Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL
Telephone: 0161 276 1234
www.cmft.nhs.uk

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY
Telephone: 01603 286286
www.nnuh.nhs.uk

Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ
Telephone: 020 8864 3232
www.lnwh.nhs.uk

Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portmouth PO6 3LY
Telephone: 023 9228 6000
www.porthosp.nhs.uk

Queens Medical Centre, University Hospital, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH
Telephone: 0115 924 9924
www.nuh.nhs.uk 

Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading RG1 5AN
Telephone: 0118 322 5111
www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk

Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth BH7 7DW
Telephone: 01202 303626
www.rbch.nhs.uk

Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3LJ
Telephone: 01872 250000
www.rcht.nhs.uk

Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby DE22 3NE
Telephone: 01322 340131
www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW
Telephone: 01392 411611
www.rdehospital.nhs.uk

Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF
Telephone: 0114 271 1900
www.sth.nhs.uk

Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP.
Telephone: 0151 706 2000
www.rlbuht.nhs.uk

Royal London Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
Telephone: 020 7377 7000
www.bartshealth.nhs.uk

Royal Stoke University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6QG
Telephone: 01782 715444
www.uhnm.nhs.uk

Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 5XX
Telephone: 01483 571122
www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk

Scarborough Hospital, Woodlands Road, Scarborough YO12 6QL
Telephone: 01723 368111
www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk

St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT
Telephone: 020 8672 1255
www.stgeorges.nhs.uk

St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY
Telephone: 020 7886 6666
www.imperial.nhs.uk

University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London NW1 2BU
Telephone: 0845 155 5000
www.uclh.nhs.uk

University Hospital Aintree, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL
Telephone: 0151 525 5980
www.aintreehospitals.nhs.uk

University Hospital Coventry, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX
Telephone: 024 7696 4000
www.uhcw.nhs.uk

University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Shirley, Southampton SO16 6YD
Telephone: 023 8077 7222
www.uhs.nhs.uk

Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford WD18 0HB
Telephone: 01923 244366
www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk

York Hospital, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8HE
Telephone: 01904 631313
www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk

Wales

Liver Units

University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park Cardiff CF14 4XW
Telephone: 029 2074 7747
www.cavuhb.nhs.wales/hospitals-and-health-centres/our-hospitals/uhw/

Royal Gwent Hospital, Cardiff Road, Newport NP20 2UB
Telephone: 01633 234234
www.wales.nhs.uk

Scotland

Liver & Transplant Units

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA
Telephone: 0131 536 1000
www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Liver Units

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Forester Hill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN
Telephone: 0845 456 6000
www.nhsgrampian.org

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0SF
Telephone: 0141 211 4000
www.nhsggc.org.uk

Ninewells HospitalDundee DD1 9SY
Telephone: 01382 660111
www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk

Northern Ireland

Liver Units

Royal Victoria Hospital, 274 Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA
Telephone: 028 9024 0503
www.belfasttrust.hscni.net

Note: The Liver Units detailed in this section are as defined by the NHS as "a large regional specialist unit with three or more full time equivalent Hepatologists".

Liver services are available in other hospitals.

Patient, Carer and Support Information

The Trust has a range of information on support for specific liver conditions on the individual page for that condition - please see Liver conditions.

There is also a directory of support groups and information on how to join our online community in our Support for you section.

Other organisations offering support and information

Abbeycare

Abbeycare is a provider of specialist residential alcohol treatment and detoxification centres, with rehabs in Scotland and Newmarket. We treat people suffering from alcoholism and the problems associated with alcohol dependence and alcohol misuse.
www.abbeycarefoundation.com

Action on Addiction

Charity which offers high quality, effective residential rehab and community based addiction treatment.
www.actiononaddiction.org.uk

Al-Anon

Organisation offering support for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.
www.al-anonuk.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous

Charity which aims to help people give up alcohol through peer support and sharing of experiences.
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Alpha-1 Awareness UK

UK Charity supporting sufferers of Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic condition, which in adults affects the lungs and in infants, children and some adults affects the liver.
www.alpha1.uk

Alpha-1 Foundation US

A not-for-profit Florida corporation dedicated to providing the leadership and resources that will result in increased research, improved health, worldwide detection, and a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
www.alpha1.org.uk

Alpha-1 UK Support Group

UK support group run by alphas for alphas, to help and advise, backed by the UK’s leading medical experts in the field of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Provide support and education for individuals, families, carers and friends affected by Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and grow a social network for patients, by providing a discussion group focusing on how better to cope with their condition, aiming towards improving quality of life.
www.alpha1.org.uk

AMMF – the Cholangiocarcinoma charity

AMMF is a UK cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) charity. They provide information and support to those who need it, campaign to raise awareness, and encourage and support specialised research teams in their work towards better diagnostic techniques and treatments and, ultimately a cure. They work throughout the UK with patients and their carers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, politicians and policy makers.
www.ammf.org.uk

AntiCoagulation UK

Registered charity dedicated to the prevention of thrombosis (blood clots), raising awareness of the risk of blood clots and how to help prevent them by providing information, education and support for patients and healthcare professionals
www.anticoagulationuk.org

BACP British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy

An online directory to search for a professional counsellor in your area.
www.bacp.co.uk

Berkshire Healthcare Healthmakers

Group of volunteers with long term health conditions in Bracknell and Ascot who offer peer support to teach others how to manage long term health conditions, deliver training to help others become HealthMakers, and act as Patient Partners who work closely with local health services to improve patient care and quality of life.
www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk

Carers Direct

Free, confidential information and advice to help you as a carer. Helpline: 0300 123 1053. Lines open 8am – 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am – 4pm at weekends.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide

Care Oncology Clinic

A private clinic in London providing cancer treatments to target the metabolic processes and pathways of cancer cells that may also complement standard care therapy.
http://careoncologyclinic.com/

Carers UK

Information, advice and support for carers.
www.carersuk.org

Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF)

Charity concerend with care for babies and children with liver disease and their families through support, information and research.
www.childliverdisease.org

Counselling Directory

The purpose of the site is to provide a counselling support network, to find a counsellor local to you. This is a free, confidential service. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and provides some useful statistics.
www.counselling-directory.org.uk

Disability Rights UK

An organisation working for equality of rights for anyone with a disability and providing basic information about benefits, tax credits, social care and other disability related issues for claimants.
www.disabilityrightsuk.org

Haemochromatosis Society

Registered  charity that supports people affected by haemochromatosis, and their families, with information, a helpline and support groups.
www.haemochromatosis.org.uk/

Hepatitis C Trust

Charity for anyone affected by hepatitis C.  It is a patient-led and patient-run organisation offering information, support, a helpline and advocacy.
www.hepctrust.org.uk

Hepatitis Scotland

Hepatitis Scotland is the national third sector organisation, providing support and leadership to voluntary sector organisations in tackling viral hepatitis in Scotland.
www.hepatitisscotland.org.uk

Hope Support Services

Organisation supporting young people when a close family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
www.hopesupport.org.uk

Hypnotherapy Directory

Lists qualified/registered hypnotherapists for support with issues such as alcohol dependency or weight loss.
www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk

ICP Support

Charity providing support and information on ICP (Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy) via moderated social media groups and a telephone support line.
www.icpsupport.org

Marie Curie

Marie Curie Nurses provide free nursing care to cancer patients and those with other terminal illnesses in their own homes.
www.mariecurie.org.uk

National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome UK (NOFAS)

Organisation supporting people affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and their families. It promotes education for professionals and public awareness about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
www.nofas-uk.org

PBC Foundation

Scottish registered charity offering information, a helpline, and advocacy for anyone diagnosed with PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis)
www.pbcfoundation.org.uk

PSC Support

PSC Support is a registered charity that helps anyone affected by PSC with information, a helpline, facebook group and email support.
www.pscsupport.org.uk

Relate

Relate offers counseling for help with relationship difficulties.
www.relate.org.uk

Samaritans

Confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day.
www.samaritans.org

St Bernard Support

Charity that specialises in providing information regarding financial well-being matters to people with life affecting illnesses. Their affiliated not for profit partnership SBS Financial Services is also able to provide FCA authorised independent financial advice regarding pensions, insurances and estate planning matters tailored for people affected by illness
www.s-b-s.org.uk/

Sue Ryder Bereavement Support

Charity providing support for palliative, neurological and bereavement support
https://www.sueryder.org/how-can-i-cope-with-bereavement

The Haemophilia Society UK

Registered charity that provides information and support for people affected by haemophilia, von Willebrand’s and related inherited disorders.
www.haemophilia.org.uk

The Patients Association

Charity providing patients with an opportunity to raise concerns and share experiences of healthcare. Through their helpline, correspondence and research they learn from patients the issues that are of concern and work towards improving healthcare.
www.patients-association.com

Please note the Trust is not responsible for the accuracy of information on any sites that we do not manage and by providing a link we are not giving any endorsement of that site.

IQILS

IQILS stands for Improving Quality in Liver Services and is a new accreditation scheme for UK hospitals that care for people with liver conditions to demonstrate that they provide high-quality liver services for patients.This includes clinics and inpatient and outpatient services.

The British Liver Trust has worked with the Royal College of Physicians and produced the following FAQs:

What is IQILS?

IQILS stands for Improving Quality in Liver Services. It is a new accreditation scheme for UK hospitals that care for people with liver conditions to demonstrate that they provide high-quality liver services for patients. This includes clinics and inpatient and outpatient services.

IQILS is run by the Royal College of Physicians and is supported by patient organisations, including the British Liver Trust, PSC Support and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

Why is IQILS important?

IQILS is important because it supports hospitals to improve the quality of their liver services and drive up standards of care for people with liver conditions across the UK.

The British Liver Trust says ‘There is an urgent need to improve the standard of care provided by liver services across the country. The British Liver Trust hopes that the new scheme will help achieve this by measuring services to improve the care patients receive irrespective of where they live and by ensuring centres provide patient-centred care.’

How does IQILS work?

Liver services across the UK are registering to work towards IQILS accreditation. To be accredited, they must meet high standards of care. These standards have been developed with patients to ensure that accredited liver services are truly meeting patients’ needs.

The IQILS scheme ensures that each hospital service measures the different elements of the service that they are providing so that they can see how they are doing compared with others. It enables them to share knowledge and resources and embed what works into their daily practice.

What will IQILS mean for me?

If your liver clinic is accredited it means that your hospital meets the rigorous IQILS standards and has demonstrated that it is delivering high quality care. This accreditation is not a one-off badge; your hospital must be inspected by the independent IQILS team and its processes scrutinised closely. For the next 5 years this will take the form of a remote assessment and then in year five a full inspection will take place again.

If your liver clinic is working towards IQILS accreditation, it means that there is a commitment from your hospital and the liver team to provide a high level of service. It is a new scheme so don’t worry if your service is not yet accredited. However, if your hospital is not working towards accreditation, ask them why not and if they intend to sign up.

How will IQILS improve services?

A liver clinic that is accredited has met certain standards including that there is adequate training in place for staff, you can get in touch with your liver clinic when you need to, you are clear about your treatment and options, you are treated with dignity and respect, and your liver clinic is listening to you and trying to meet your needs.

The IQILS goal is to improve your safety and the quality of care that you receive.

How will I know if my service is involved?

The full list of services accredited or working towards accreditation is on the IQILS website www.iqils.org.

How can I get involved?

It is important for your liver service to understand what their service users think about their services and what needs improving. What could they do better? What’s missing? Equally, it is important for the liver services to work with their service users to design and consider how to make those improvements. If your liver service is working towards accreditation, they want to hear from you! If you’d like to get involved in helping drive these improvements, do get in touch with your liver service and offer your assistance and support. We urge you to congratulate them on being among the first services to work towards IQILS!

If your liver service is not listed, ask your consultant or member of the team why they are not yet involved. If you think it is important that they are, you should make this known. Offer your support and assistance.

You can also get in touch with your local and national patient organisations to help support services in working towards IQILS. If there is no liver patient group at your hospital, have you thought about starting your own?

Contact the British Liver Trust for a pack to help you do this or visit the Support section of our website for other local, national and disease specific groups and charities that can help.

If you have any further questions about IQILS please email askiqils@rcplondon.ac.uk

www.rcplondon.ac.uk

www.iqils.org

International liver charities

Australia

Australian Liver Foundation
The Australian Liver Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in response to the huge and growing need for more research into diseases of the liver and bile duct.
www.liver.org.au

Bangladesh

National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh
The National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh is a philanthropic organization dedicated to Prevention, Treatment, Education and Research on liver diseases in Bangladesh
www.liver.org.bd

Canada

Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver
CASL is a non-profit organization that seeks to eliminate liver disease through research, education and advocacy. Its members include hepatologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists, pediatricians, radiologists, scientists, surgeons, trainees and other interested people.
www.hepatology.ca

Canadian Liver Foundation
Established in 1969, the Canadian Liver Foundation’s mandate is to promote liver health and reduce the incidence and impact of liver disease by providing support for research and education into the causes, diagnoses, prevention and treatment of liver disease.
www.liver.ca

France

Association Maladies Foie Enfants
AMFE was created in October 2009 by parents of children living with liver disease.  This association aims to raise funds for pediatrice liver disease research, including biliary atresia. The funds may also be used for social activities to help families copy with the illness of their child.
www.maladie-de-foie-enfant.org

India

Liver Foundation, West Bengal
Liver Foundation, West Bengal, is a voluntary, non-government organization (NGO) registered under the Societies Act 1961. It was founded on June 30, 2006 by a group of health professionals and social activists. Its primary objective is to take the benefits of the advances of medical sciences to the socio-economically backward sections of India.
www.liverfoundation.in

Taiwan

Taiwan Liver Research Foundation
The foundation is a non-profitable legal organization whose purpose is to improve the prevention, treatment and research of liver diseases.
http://www.liver-formosa.org.tw/en

USA
AASLD – American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases The Association is a leading organization of scientists and health care professionals in the USA committed to preventing and curing liver disease.www.aasld.org/about-aasld