To mark Liver Cancer Awareness Month, the Scottish Parliament held a debate yesterday on raising awareness of liver disease in Scottish Parliament. Our policy team secured the debate, which highlighted the scale and severity of the liver disease and liver cancer crisis in Scotland, with the assistance of Clare Haughey MSP.
Eight cross-party MSPs spoke in the debate, including Jackie Bailie MSP, Scottish Labour Party Spokesperson on Health and Gillian Mackay MSP, Scottish Green Party Spokesperson on Health. You can watch the full debate here
The debate sponsor, Clare Haughey MSP opened the debate by remarking that “prevention policies is better than a cure” and public health policies such as the increase in minimum unit pricing for alcohol are key to tackling alcohol related liver disease, reducing health inequalities and ultimately saving lives. Evidence from Public Health Scotland has shown that minimum unit pricing has, on average, saved 268 lives and averted 899 hospital admissions each year.
Liver disease is the biggest risk factor for liver cancer and that liver cancer is now the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK, with a survival rate of just 13 per cent. Jackie Baillie MSP, co-convenor for the Cross Party Group on cancer, reported that liver cancer is one of the six less survivable cancers that make up nearly half of all cancer deaths in Scotland. Following the debate, Ms Baillie and her joint co-convenor Miles Briggs MSP supported our letter to the Cabinet Health Secretary Neil Gray, calling for a national liver cancer pathway.
Several of the speakers recognised that liver disease is closely linked to health inequalities, with key risk factors such as obesity, alcohol misuse and viral hepatitis most prevalent in the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities. Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, provided the Government’s response during the debate. She stated that “Tackling health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy continue to be key priorities for this Government,” and early detection of liver disease is crucial.
On attending the debate, Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust said:
“I was delighted to attend the debate on raising awareness of liver disease. It is vital that liver disease remains on the political agenda. Thank you to our wonderful patient advocates, Helen and John for joining me to watch the debate from the Chamber.
Death rates for chronic liver disease in Scotland have increased by 80% in the last 3 decades, increasing by 16% since the pandemic between 2019-22. This is in stark contrast to other major killer diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, which have remained stable or decreased. Policies that promote improving public health and early detection of liver disease will have a significant impact on reducing the burden on the NHS and saving lives.”
As well as securing speakers for the debate, the policy team provided detailed briefings which included our key policy calls to address the liver disease crisis in Scotland. The British Liver Trust are calling for:
- New national guidance on liver disease to improve earlier diagnosis including through the national roll out of intelligent Liver Function Tests and FibroScans in primary and community care.
- Prevention: population wide measures to tackle obesity and alcohol misuse as drivers of liver disease including
- Alcohol marketing restrictions to limit the exposure of children and at risk groups
- Automatic uprating mechanism on Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol
- Alcohol Harm Prevention Levy on retailers who sell alcohol and who profit from MUP, with the funds used for local prevention, early detection, treatment, and care services. Revenue from the levy could transform diagnostic services for liver disease by improving provision of fibrosis assessments in primary care and community settings.
- Restrictions on the promotion of food and drink high in fat, sugar and salt to support people to eat well and reduce health inequalities
- Early detection: Health Boards to implement full patient care pathways for the early detection and management of liver disease.
- Action on liver cancer and less survivable cancers: Provide sustainable funding for the nationwide rollout of the Scottish Care and Coordination Service for Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancers (SCOT HPB) in line with Action 45 of the National Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-26.
- Workforce: Establish recruitment targets for the liver care workforce to address chronic workforce shortages and geographic variation in (1) consultant hepatologists (2) liver nurse specialists and (3) alcohol care teams.
Take a look at our social media to see clips of speakers at the debate: https://x.com/LiverTrust/status/1846920732086816946
