Train doctors for disease treatment

4:00pm Friday 29th August 2008

DOCTORS should receive more training in diagnosing and treating the blood-borne hepatitis C virus in patients, according to a Bolton MP.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is MP for Bolton West, has written to the chief executive of Bolton Primary Care Trust, asking what training is currently available to local GPs.

A survey by the Government and the Hepatitis C Trust has found that a third of GPs in Greater Manchester are not confident in their ability to diagnose and treat it.

The symptoms associated with the virus, which has no vaccine, are easy to miss and can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis or even cancer, although early treatment can be effective.