We held our annual parliamentary liver health awareness day in Westminster to mark Love Your Liver Month and draw attention to the urgent action required to tackle the liver disease crisis in the UK. The event was attended by 90 MPs and Peers, including Andrew Gwynne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention who engaged with our team, clinical experts, and people affected by liver disease to gain deeper insight into the critical need for improving early detection and addressing geographic inequalities in care.
This event follows the release of new data by the British Liver Trust, which highlights significant disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of liver disease across the UK. The research, published in the British Journal of General Practice on 15th January, reveals that 80% of England does not have an effective liver care pathway, underscoring the pressing need for systemic change.
Held on 21st January 2025, the Parliamentary ‘Love Your Liver’ event provided Parliamentarians, Peers, and their staff with the opportunity to have a non-invasive liver scan (FibroScan), which assesses liver stiffness and detects early signs of liver damage. This provided insight into the tool we use throughout the year at our Love Your Liver roadshow to identify members of the public at risk, offering them information and guidance on what steps to take next.
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At the drop-in event, politicians also spoke to four amazing patient advocates – Monica, Andy, Sara, and Dorethy – who shared their lived experiences. Sara said: “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help raise awareness of liver disease and share my dad’s story with MPs. With increased liver awareness and a clear pathway for all liver patients, lives can be saved. I won’t let my dad’s death be in vain and will keep campaigning so that no other family needs to lose their loved one to preventable liver disease. Early diagnosis with the right intervention will save lives.”
The UK is facing a liver disease crisis – over 18,000 people died of liver disease and liver cancer in 2022. Sadly, in England alone, 85,000 people were hospitalised due to liver disease in 2023. Prevention and early detection are vital to improve outcomes for patients. 90% of liver disease is preventable. The main risk factors are alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. If diagnosed early, damage can often be reversed through lifestyle changes.
The British Liver Trust is calling on MPs to:
- Advocate for funding to integrate early diagnosis of liver disease in primary care.
- Engage with their Integrated Care Boards to introduce pathways for the early diagnosis of liver disease.
- Join the APPG on Liver Disease and Liver Cancer as a member and become a voice for patients in Parliament.
Dr Beccy Cooper MP, lead sponsor emphasized the importance of early intervention, stating: “Liver disease is a growing public health crisis in the UK, claiming over 12,000 lives each year. We must take urgent action to improve prevention, enhance treatment for those at risk, and provide better care for all.”
Dr Beccy Cooper MP and Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, added: “We were delighted to have the support of so many parliamentarians who are passionate about improving liver health for all and driving change.
Liver disease is a key indicator of the nation’s health – improving prevention, early diagnosis, and patient care is essential to reducing the number of lives lost to liver disease and turning the tide on its rising prevalence in the population.”
As January marks Love Your Liver Awareness Month, the British Liver Trust continues to champion liver health education and disease prevention. With 90% of liver diseases being preventable through lifestyle changes, we encourages the public to assess their risk by completing a free online liver health screener at www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener.
Together, we can turn the tide on liver disease and ensure early diagnosis saves lives.
