The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has published a report, which suggests that around 216,000 individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis C in the UK and many of them are unaware. Much of the prevalent infection is concentrated in marginalised populations, with injecting drug users (IDUs) at greatest risk of acquiring infection.

Latest HPA figures suggest that around 4,200 people in England would need a liver transplant as a result of hepatitis C by 2020 if action is not taken. Improvements in national surveillance have been made, and are ongoing, in all UK countries. Action plans and work programmes are in place across the UK to help tackle the infection. This report documents the progress of these plans and programmes.