Outpatients clinic in jail treats hep C prisoners | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Four prisoners are currently being treated for hepatitis C through the outpatients clinic the Whanganui District Health Board established at Whanganui Prison in February.

They are among 15 Wanganui people being treated for the disease by the outpatients department.

The idea of establishing a clinic at the prison was the brainchild of a WDHB nurse who, aware of similar clinics in prisons, thought it made sense for the department to go to the prison rather than bring the prisoners to the hospital clinic.

Sandy Blake, WDHB director of nursing, said lockdowns and other issues often meant appointments were cancelled, which made it difficult to provide the regular monthly clinics hepatitis C patients required.

"To go out there was the sensible solution," Mrs Blake said.

Caught through blood-to-blood contact, hepatitis C is prevalent among intravenous drug users and those with tattoos and piercings.

"It's when new prisoners are screened for a variety of diseases and conditions that staff pick up who has it, and very often the prisoners concerned are unaware they do," she said.

"Hepatitis C can lie dormant for decades, quietly damaging the liver without the sufferer knowing it. Often it is not until they suffer symptoms such as tiredness or food upsets that they go to the doctor and are diagnosed," Mrs Blake said. If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.

Treatment for the disease involves a weekly injection and tablets taken twice a day, for between 24 and 48 weeks. The treatment can have unpleasant side effects and the WDHB nurse works closely with the prison's nurses to help prisoners deal with them.

Mrs Blake said anyone concerned that their lifestyle may have left them prone to hepatitis C are encouraged to see their GP for a check as soon as possible.