NATIONAL LIVER REFORM STRATEGY

That this House notes that the increasing prevalence of viral hepatitis, alcohol misuse and obesity is increasing the incidence of, and mortality from, liver disease; further notes that liver disease is the fifth most common cause of death in the UK with over 14,000 people dying from liver disease every year and is the only one of the top five killer diseases still increasing; believes that tackling liver disease, through improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment should be made a health service priority; welcomes the publication of the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group's report, Divided Nations: Tackling the hepatitis C challenge across the UK; expresses concern at the report's findings that the Hepatitis C Action Plan for England has been poorly implemented; calls for urgent action to tackle the weaknesses of the Action Plan; and urges the Government to commit to developing a liver strategy and appoint a national clinical director for liver services to co-ordinate this vital work.