Useful contacts and helplines

How to contact us

Hepatitis Specialist nurses

  • Niamh Boyle: - 0778 888 3457 ( currently not available)
  • Orla McCormick: - 0771 250 6350

Network Co-ordinator


Notifiable diseases

Under the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) doctors have a statutory duty to notify the Public Health Agency (PHA) if they are aware of, or suspect that, a patient is suffering from a notifiable disease.

The Public Health (Northern Ireland) Act 1967 states that: ‘every medical practitioner attending on a person shall as soon as he becomes aware, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, that the person is suffering from a notifiable disease, send to the medical officer of health for the area in which the examination took place a certificate stating:

  • The name, age, sex and address of the patient
  • The address of the building in which the examination took place and
  • The notifiable disease from which, in the opinion of the medical practitioner, the patient is, or may be, suffering’

If a patient is admitted to hospital with a diagnosis, or suspected of having, any notifiable disease, the clinician in charge has a legal responsibility to notify the Public Health Agency. Likewise, in a community setting, General Practitioners (GPs) have the same responsibility. A list of diseases that require notification can be found here. The aim of notification is to identify the risks and institute appropriate control measures as early as possible. 

PHA NI Hepatitis C Notification form - link below - https://www.hepbandcni.net/sites/default/files/Hep%20C%20Notification%20...https://www.hepbandcni.net/sites/default/files/Hep%20C%20Notification%20...Having Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C may not only have implications for you, but also for your family, loved ones and other areas of your life too. Finding support can help you and talking to someone can be very useful and important. If you're not ready to tell your family or friends yet, talking to a Healthcare professional can help (details below).

Remember - there are plenty of options available to help you lead a healthy life.

Sexual health/Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic- for free confidential information.
  • SH:24 Free Home STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing kit - Free STI test kit, results in 7 days – test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. Confidential testing, information and advice with NHS clinics. Regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Order test kit
  • Sexual Health Northern Ireland - Sexual Health NI - aimed at young people and adults, offers information and advice on how to look after your sexual health.

Helplines

Talk to Frank (formely National Drugs Helpline) 0300 123 6600
Helpline contact numbers - For anyone with concerns about Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B Foundation Positive Trust helpline
(10:30 am -8pm, Mon -Fri)		 07958 558510
British Liver Trust helpline
(9am -5pm, Mon -Fri)		 0800 6527330
Helpline contact numbers - For anyone with concerns about Hepatitis C

The Northern Ireland Regional Hepatitis B&C Clinical Network

028 961 55569 / 028 961 55725/ 079 079 79722

Hep C Trust helpline number

 0845 223 4424 or 020 7089 6221 (available 10.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday).
RVH Liver Support Group 07737718493


The Infected Blood Inquiry

  • Support is available to individuals infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV by NHS supplied blood transfusions or blood products and their dependants. The Infected Blood Inquiry has been hearing evidence since 2019, and expects to continue this into 2022. The Inquiry would like to ensure that everyone living with hepatitis C caused by infected blood or blood products has the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry by sharing their experience.
    There are a number of ways to do this, with more information on how to participate here. The Inquiry would be grateful if you could share this information with any of your patients who were infected in this way before September 1991, prior to effective screening.  The Inquiry team recognises that participating in an Inquiry can be difficult and anyone who comes forward will be able to share their experience in confidence, and can do this anonymously if preferred.
    The best way to contact the Inquiry is to email contact@infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk or phone 0808 169 1377.

Have you or a family member been infected as a result of receiving contaminated blood?

  • If you feel like  you would like psychological support, then please contact the Clinical Psychological Service on 028 9615 5867