Somerset NHS Foundation Trust launches liver disease detection initiative

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new initiative to identify individuals at risk of liver disease and metabolic ill health at an earlier stage. The program is designed to function between primary and secondary care, utilizing the trust’s community diagnostic centre programme.

By analyzing blood tests for early signals, the pathway aims to catch diseases that often develop silently without obvious symptoms. Patients identified through this process may undergo further blood tests or specialist liver scans to check for scarring or fat in the liver. Those requiring specialist care will be referred to the appropriate clinical teams, while others may receive guidance on reducing metabolic risks.

Following a successful pilot that involved approximately 700 people, the new pathway is expected to expand, potentially inviting around 9,000 people for further checks. Consultant gastroenterologist Dr. Tim Jobson noted that the initiative focuses on prevention, metabolic health, and addressing health inequalities by acting before patients become severely unwell.