The aim of Community Liver Health Checks (CLHC) is to raise awareness of liver health to the public and what actions they can take to improve liver health. The project supports the NHS early detection and diagnosis of liver cancer by identifying and referring those at high risk to specialist liver teams in local hospital treatment centres.
Liver health checks are offered on our mobile clinic vehicle, using a machine called a Fibroscan which does a specialised type of scan to look at the liver. It measures two different things:
- How much fibrosis (scarring) there is in the liver
- How much fat is in the liver
The scan is a simple, quick and painless test that uses high frequency sound waves and gives immediate results. It is non-invasive, which means that it does not break the skin or enter your body.
Workplace Liver Health Checks
We appreciate that when CLHC events take place, they are usually during working hours which means that those members of the public who are employed may not be able to attend one of our events.
Liver Health Checks in the workplace are open to all employers who wish to promote liver health to their employees. Our team is available to come to your workplace to scan employees who meet one of more of the criteria outlined below.
Liver scan criteria:
Community liver health checks (CLHC) are open to the public who meet one or more of the criteria outlined below:
- You may have previously had or been at risk of Hepatitis B or C
- You consume more than 14 units of alcohol a week
- You are 50 years old and over with Type 2 diabetes
- You are 50 years old and over with a body mass index of >30 BMI or >27 BMI for some people depending on their ethnic background
Calculate your body mass index (BMI) for adults – NHS
You will be asked these questions prior to being offered a scan of your liver by the CLHC team.
If you have had a liver scan in the last 12 months you will not be eligible for a scan on this occasion.
Employees do not need to disclose this information to their employers as they will be asked these questions prior to being offered a scan.
The service is confidential, conversations and/or results will not be discussed or passed on to employers. The results of the scan will be sent to the employees GP in a letter from the CLHC Team.
How to register your interest
If you are interested in holding your own workplace event, please send an email to [email protected] and the team will be in touch with you.
Introductory Call
To arrange a CLHC event we will organise a call via Microsoft Teams to provide you with information about the service and gain an insight into your business or organisation. We will work with your nominated contact or occupational health team to determine if you have a suitable location for our vehicle and book a date to suit your needs to offer our services to your employees.
Testimonials
West Yorkshire Police
The West Yorkshire Liver Care team reached out to West Yorkshire Police to offer free screening for employees. I understand that we were one of, if not the first, large employer they had worked with. As an OH Manager and someone actively involved in improving the health and wellbeing of employees, I knew we could not turn it down. Police Officers and staff often encounter a number of health risks whilst protecting the community and some of these are not the obvious ones that people will automatically think of. In our job it is not always easy to prioritise yourself and you often work long hours, varying shift patterns and don’t eat regularly. This can often spill over into your home life where you may feel too tired to exercise, plan meals or just look after yourself. Being able to offer free screening at a location that was convenient and accessible was extremely beneficial and well received by everyone who took part. As an organisation we received a detailed analysis of the outcomes which really helped us understand the health issues of our employees and specific population groups allowing us to take an evidence-based approach when it comes to health promotion activities. I can’t thank the whole team enough for the service and support that they have provided to us.
Rachael Hunter – OH Practice Manager
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty’s commitment to health and wellbeing for all employees, from on-site operatives to enabling functions, is key to the business. The initiative to invite West Yorkshire Liver Care ODN to our Bishopgate project was a testament to this commitment. The Project Team benefitted immensely from liver screenings and valuable advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The supportive and informative approach of the ‘Liver Buddies Team’ ensured every individual received relevant and practical guidance. Thank you for reinforcing Balfour Beatty’s dedication to prioritising health and safety. We look forward to welcoming you back to another of our projects! Thank you again for your valued visit.
Julie Heaton – Administration Assistant
HSL Furniture
As a family business with strong family values our people are at the heart of everything we do.
We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure our colleagues prioritise their health and wellbeing.
When we learnt about the services that West Yorkshire Liver Care ODN (Liver Buddies) offered we did not hesitate to offer these to our colleagues.
Pleasingly, we had a fantastic response and had to book several sessions to accommodate all the requests.
We found the service extremely professional and efficient and would strongly recommend them to any employer who cares about the health and wellbeing of their employees.
Steve Radley – HR Business Partner