Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Hepatitis C

People infected with hepatitis C virus often show no symptoms initially, but long term effects can include liver damage (cirrhosis and liver cancer). The virus is transmitted mainly through contact with the blood of an infected person, and drug users who share injecting equipment are at particular risk. Babies can also be infected by their mothers during birth. No vaccine exists to prevent hepatitis C infection, but treatments are available that are effective in over 50% of cases.

Other Hepatitis C key documents

Other key Hepatitis C publications for health practitioners.

Hepatitis C useful links

Links to websites containing information about Hepatitis C.

Details of hepatitis C ex-gratia payment scheme announced

Published: 23/01/2004

Health Secretary John Reid today announced a scheme by which, people infected with hepatitis C from NHS blood or blood products will be eligible to receive ex-gratia payments from the Department of Health.

Additional links

Advisory Group on Hepatitis

Advises Chief Medical Officers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on appropriate policies for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in the community and in health care settings.

Unlinked Anonymous Surveys Steering Group

Group that steers and advises on the unlinked anonymous programme, its performance and the value for money of the surveys for HIV and other infectious diseases as agreed by Ministers.

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