Hep C Trust

HEPATITIS

The Hepatitis C Trust is a national patient led organization, Julia and Jane are the women’s prison team. We cover all twelve female prisons, encouraging women to get tested and treated. Both of us have experience of using class A drugs, contracting hepatitis c and curing it. We also both know how it feels to be in jail with hepatitis C. As women we want to encourage other women to come forward and get help. If there was ever a ‘good time’ to have hepatitis c in jail, that time would be now. The new treatment is classed as a CURE, side effects are minimal and the course of tablets is just eight to twelve weeks.

JULIA’S STORY

I was first diagnosed in 2006/7 on an all too frequent hospital admission. I remember being told “you are positive for the hepatitis C virus” but given no more information on treatment or even what hep C actually was. I had often heard of hep C within my circle over the years and I was aware as an injecting drug user I was at risk but I still found the diagnosis a shock. I guess it’s that thought of “it’s not going to happen to me”. It did.

Facing and dealing with my hep C was not a priority at that time. My life was chaotic and denial pretended to be my friend so to the back of my mind it was pushed.

In 2015 I was given a prison sentence and sent to HMP Holloway. Whilst there I started engaging with healthcare and met the hep C doctor. It was not like it is today - I was released before I could get any help.

The game changer for me happened a few months later when a good friend of mine lost his battle to hep C and died. I didn’t want that to happen to me. My ability to bury my head in the sand and ignore it disappeared, I was filled with an urgency to face it and see how I could get rid of it. Somewhere between prison and losing my friend, a new treatment had become available…a cure! So I did the new treatment. JULIA AND To me it was a miracle. JANE I was cured of hepatitis

C TRUST

C with a few tablets a day for 12 weeks with no side effects.

Women in prison today have the amazing advantage of fast access to treatment and I would encourage every woman to get tested.

Let’s all support each other and eliminate hepatitis C.

What We’ve Been Up To This is an exciting time, there is an elimination goal for the women’s estate!!! So far, we have successfully eliminated hep C in HMP Foston Hall and HMP Low Newton. It was an amazing experience to be a part of the elimination - the conversation about hep C is finally out in the open. For the elimination to be a success, this is how it needs to stay. Our next focus is eliminating in 5 more jails; HMP New Hall, HMP Askham Grange, HMP Bronzefield, HMP East Sutton Park and HMP Drake Hall – eventually the whole estate. During our elimination work, anyone testing positive will be fast tracked on to treatment. There is no need to be scared - no one needs to live with or die from hepatitis C any more.

What is Hep C Hepatitis C is a virus that is caught only through blood. The blood from an infected person must get into your bloodstream via a direct route. Risks include: l Sharing someone’s razor l Being tattooed l Piercings l Sharing self-harm tools l Sharing nail clippers l Sharing injecting equipment

Hepatitis C is not passed on through saliva, urine or sweat. It is not sexually transmitted, although rough or anal sex can be a risk if skin is broken. You cannot catch hep c from: l Blood on a toilet seat l Blood in the shower l Blood on floor/walls. However If you do have a cut or wound, cover it up.

Antibodies When someone is exposed to the hepatitis c virus their body produces antibodies to try to fight it off. Once you have them, these antibodies will always be present if you have a test. They are not the virus lying dormant (this is a myth), they are just a marker showing you have come into contact with the virus at some point. You will need to take a further test to show if you have the virus.

We look forward to meeting anyone who needs our support. If you would like any further information, please contact healthcare and ask for one our booklets. Julia and Jane