This article was first published on healthandcare.scot

Liver patients and clinicians are being asked to share their views on how liver services are accessed across Scotland.

The Scottish Hepatology Access Research Partnership (SHARP) has announced it will run three short surveys to better understand barriers in accessing liver services.

Liver patients, primary care clinicians and secondary care clinicians are being urged by researchers to share their insights to inform future research and improvements.

Led by NHS Tayside consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist Dr Ruari Lynch, the surveys mark the first work stream of SHARP as it works to find novel solutions to liver service access, with a focus on rural and remote areas.

Dr Lynch said it is “hugely important” to listen to patient and clinician voices to better understand the challenges in accessing liver care in Scotland:

“We are therefore looking for data to be provided by patients, primary care, and secondary care through these surveys that will help us to identify what barriers there are to accessing liver services and how we can break down them down.

“Death rates from liver disease in Scotland are among the highest in the world with alcohol-related deaths currently at their highest level in 14 years, so research on why that is the case is vital – these surveys represent a key starting point.”

More than 1,200 people died in Scotland from alcohol-related causes in 2022, a 2% increase from the year before.

Alcohol is thought to be linked to more than 70% of liver disease deaths.

Dr Lynch said a further challenge is access to healthcare services, particularly in remote and rural populations, and in areas with higher levels of social deprivation:

“With more information provided by patients, their families, and carers – in addition to the views of clinicians – we can help to address these issues and put in place the right studies, interventions, and support to make improvements in care.”

SHARP was set up in March 2023 with funding from the National Institute for Health Research and brings together patients, specialists, nurses, GPs social care services, alcohol and drug partnerships and charities.

The group regularly meet to discuss and identify new strands of research that could improve services.

Its work on understanding access to liver services will be followed by research into new technologies to monitor liver disease, detection of those most at risk from the disease and the factors which affect engagement with liver services.

SHARP co-lead, Professor Ewan Forrest, Consultant Hepatologist at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Research Scotland Hepatology Clinical Lead, said the partnership want as many people as possible to be involved in the work:

“We want everyone taking part in these surveys to feel valued and included.

“I urge all of those affected by liver disease – whether family, friends, carers, or clinicians – to complete the survey and ensure their voice is heard.”