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The team provided scans to 27 people during the event last month and gave advice and follow-up support to three people found to have damage to their liver.
The team also provided 29 on site tests for hepatitis B and C which are common causes of cirrhosis and are associated with increased rates of liver cancer. Of those tested, one person was found to have hepatitis B and is now being offered follow-up care.
Hepatitis C can be treated with a short course of tablets, while those with hepatitis B can be monitored in clinic and offered treatment to reduce the risk of developing advanced liver disease.
Organised by Haringey and Islington councils along with grass roots organisation Street Kitchen, Streets Fest provides a range of support services to those experiencing homelessness including housing support, drug and alcohol services and vaccination information.
Liver Senior Clinical Fellow Dr Daniel Gutmann, who was part of the team on the day, said: “We have been conducting community liver health check clinics across north London and Hertfordshire as part of a National Cancer Programme initiative.
“The aim is to improve the rates of early detection and diagnosis of liver cancer and therefore the ability to offer treatment at an early stage when it likely to be effective.
“We target our community clinics where we know people will be most at risk of liver disease. This includes people with type 2 diabetes, obesity, viral hepatitis and alcohol disorders. Our mobile clinic helps us to make this service as accessible as possible to people most at risk.”
This work is part of a wider strategy aimed at improving early detection rates for liver disease being supported by NHS England’s operational delivery networks for hepatitis C, the North Central London Cancer Alliance and the North Central London Liver Network.
