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Unfairly stigmatised

Tara explains that patients with liver disease are often younger and from a lower socio-economic background, so they may lack the confidence needed to approach health care professionals with any concerns.  

Many also have addictions to drugs and alcohol which Tara says can lead to them being unfairly stigmatised. 

“This delay in accessing diagnosis and treatment can be detrimental to their health unnecessarily so stigma needs to be challenged on a public health level and within the liver disease patient group.” 

Obesity is now the leading cause of liver disease in Wales 

Tara’s also worried about the growing rates of obesity. “We know obesity increases the rates of heart disease, stroke and diabetes but it’s now the leading cause of liver disease in Wales.

“With high rates of childhood obesity, this will have a massive impact on the future NHS. Increasing numbers of obesity means more will develop liver disease and this cannot be ignored.”  

Addressing longer term needs  

Due to the scarcity of symptoms and the frequency of late diagnosis, liver cirrhosis and the complications associated with it, including liver cancer, are a critical concern.  

Tara explains: “If a patient develops decompensated cirrhosis, their liver can’t function properly. This carries a 50% mortality rate over a 2-year period.”

Over the last year Tara has worked collaboratively with a palliative care consultant to set up a supportive care service for patients with end stage liver disease (last 2 years of life). 

“This team epitomises co-speciality working not only among hepatology and palliative care colleagues but with other allied health professionals,” Tara says.
 
Working with a hepatologist, Tara has appointed 2 liver cancer nurses to provide this service for south Wales providing a key worker role. They co-ordinate patient care through the single cancer pathway, undertaking key health needs assessments and signposting and referring patients to the relevant services including palliative care.

Decades of taking the initiative  

This isn’t Tara’s first ground-breaking initiative. Twenty years ago, she addressed the need for a blood borne virus clinic in the local community drug and alcohol service, screening and treating Hepatitis C. 

These patients often didn’t attend clinic as they felt judged yet were at a substantial risk of developing liver disease. This community clinic model of care is now standard practice throughout Wales. 
 
Tara’s also set up a day case paracentesis service – a procedure to drain fluid from the abdomen, which can build up as a result of liver disease.

Previously carried out by medical staff and requiring hospital admission for up to 5 days, this is now undertaken by Tara on a day case basis. In addition, she also trains other medical staff on how to complete the procedure. 

Patients are so grateful they don’t have to spend hours or days waiting for a hospital bed

“Providing this service provides fast and effective care for the patient, allowing for an overall hepatology assessment of the trajectory of their liver disease, ensuring all relevant investigations have been requested and acted upon while saving on hospital bed stays.

“Patients are so grateful they don’t have to spend hours or days waiting for a hospital bed for the procedure to be carried out. Symptomatically they feel so much better after the removal of the fluid, which for some can be up to 20 litres.”  

Never a dull moment 

Tara says one of the best parts of her job is working with her patients and building a mutual rapport. 

“This patient group is amazing,” she says. “There's never a dull moment. Many a day I think this would only happen in the world of hepatology”. 

“There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s such rewarding work.”