Purpose and aims
In 2016 NHSE established 22 Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) across England to deliver Hepatitis C treatment – with Sussex being one of them. As outlined by NHS England, ODNs are focussed on coordinating patient pathways between providers over a wide area to ensure access to specialist resources and expertise. The purpose of our network is to provide high quality hepatology services to patients within Sussex that comply with the NHS England national service specification.
The network ensures that all eligible patients are able to access specialist management and treatment for Hepatitis C (HCV). The aim is to increase the number of patients who are treated and cured of HCV using the most clinically appropriate and cost effective options. The network aims to provide uniform and consistent service delivery through the use of standardised patient pathways and sharing best practices and experience.
We work in partnership with other local care services and professionals, which allows clinicians to ensure that those with the greatest need get rapid access to the revolutionary treatment that is available, which currently can cure more than 95% of people with a hepatitis C infection.
Network area
Our Network is comprised of two NHS Trusts: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust (UHSussex), covering Brighton & Hove and West Sussex locations, and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT). UHSussex host the Sussex Hepatitis C ODN with Brighton & Hove acting as the hub with West Sussex and ESHT locations operating as Spoke sites. As well as other NHS trusts, we also collaborate with many different partner organisations, all of which are working toward the same goal of eliminating Hepatitis C by 2025.
These partners include:
• GPs
• Day Centres
• Sexual Health
• Homeless Hostels
• The Hepatitis C Trust
• Approved Premises (AP)
• Prison Healthcare Teams
• Public Health England (PHE)
• Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services
The network covers all of Sussex excluding Crawley, which is supported by Surrey and Sussex Healthcare (SASH) NHS Trust. Sussex has a population of over 1.8m people and comprises of a wide geographical area that includes 164 GP practices and 3 clinical commissioning groups; NHS West Sussex CCG, NHS Brighton and Hove CCG and NHS East Sussex CCG. These three CCGs are all part of the Sussex Health and Care Partnership Integrated Care System (ICS).
Network Membership
Dr Jeremy Tibble, a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at UHSussex, is the Clinical Lead for the ODN. He is supported by the Clinical Network Manager, Lead Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Research Lead, as listed below:
ODN Leads
Dr Jeremy Tibble: Consultant Gastroenterologist & Clinical Lead
Dr Sumita Verma: Professor and Honorary Consultant in Hepatology & Research Lead
Duncan Cresswell: Clinical Network Manager
Samantha Readhead: Lead Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Enquiries: duncan.cresswell@nhs.net
Network Meetings
The Sussex Hepatitis C Network meet every quarter in order to update partners from across the Network on CQUIN performance, current services, future plans, the latest NHSE requirements and to share ideas on how we can continue to improve and support our community. Attendees typically include stakeholders from community services as well as any NHS teams involved in Hep C elimination (PHE e.g.).
Key documents
- Terms of reference for the Sussex Hepatology Operational Delivery Network
- Sussex Hepatitis C Network patient pathway
- Hepatitis C services in Brighton in Hove
- Hepatitis C services in West Sussex
- Hepatitis C services in East Sussex
- Help us eliminate Hepatitis C in Sussex
- Hepatitis C myth buster
- Sussex Hepatology ODN – Hepatitis C patient referral form
