9th September 2019 - The Love Your Liver mobile screening and scanning unit will be visiting locations across Scotland between 14th to 20thth September 2019. Liver disease related admissions to hospitals in Scotland have increased five-fold in the last 40 years with alcohol being the leading cause of the disease.
900 people die from liver disease in Scotland each year[1] and the British Liver Trust estimates that over 90% of these cases could have been prevented.
Members of the public are invited to the Love Your Liver roadshow where they can assess their risk of getting liver disease, find out what preventative measures they can take to keep their liver healthy and be offered a free liver scan.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust, said, “One in three of us are at risk of liver disease and the numbers of people being diagnosed have been increasing at an alarming rate. Liver damage develops silently with no signs or symptoms and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible.
“The Love Your Liver roadshow is a great opportunity for people to find out their risk of liver disease and the first one hundred people to attend will receive a free non-invasive scan. Approximately 20% of the people we scan need to have further checks.”
The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps to Love Your Liver back to health:
- Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week
- Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and take more exercise
- Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk
The roadshow comprises a mobile unit where people can take a free online screening test and find out if they are at risk. Free liver health scanning will also be available using a non-invasive device. There will be expert guidance on how to keep your liver healthy from healthcare professionals who will be on hand to provide advice on diet, exercise and healthy living.
The roadshow will be visiting the following locations.
| Date | Location |
| Saturday 14/09/2019 | Inverness - Falcon Square, outside entrance to Eastgate shopping centre, IV2 3PP |
| Sunday 15/09/2019 | Elgin - The Plainstones, High St, Elgin, IV30 1AG |
| Monday 16/09/2019 | Aberdeen - St Nicholas Street, outside Clydesdale Bank, AB10 1WD |
| Tuesday 17/09/2019 | Dundee - City Square, DD1 1SA |
| Wednesday 18/09/2019 | Glasgow - Argyle Street, outside Barclays Bank, G2 8BJ) |
| Thursday 19/09/2019 | Glasgow - University of Strathclyde, outside Technology & Innovation Centre, G1 1RD |
| Friday 20/09/2019 | Dumfries - Queensberry Square, DG1 1BL |
Anyone wishing to take advantage of these free events should attend between 10am and 4pm. If you wish to be scanned please arrive early as places are limited. If you can’t attend the event you can still find out if you are at risk and check your liver health online by doing the online screening test at https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liver-disease-applying-all-our-health/liver-disease-applying-all-our-health
[1] https://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/chronic-liver-disease/data/mortality
