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Background:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination in England is a key priority for NHS England. People who inject drugs (PWID) remain the most affected population, with needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) serving as a critical point of engagement. Traditional models of care often struggle to reach NSP users who do not engage with structured drug treatment services.
Method:
The iNSPire project is a multi-stakeholder initiative to increase HCV testing and treatment among individuals accessing NSPs across multiple pilot sites in England. Key interventions include staff training, enhanced peer support, targeted awareness campaigns, and streamlined treatment pathways. Data collection focuses on testing rates, reasons for refusal, HCV prevalence, treatment initiation rates, and engagement in structured care among those not previously in drug treatment services. Ten sites were selected based on high NSP activity, existing service engagement, and strong multi-agency collaboration to support screening and evaluation.
Results:
The project launched in summer 2024. The following results will be presented at the conference:
•Testing Rates & Refusals – (reasons for refusal if available).
•NSP HCV prevalence.
•Treatment Initiation.
•Engagement in Care – NSP users previously disengaged from structured care who were successfully engaged in drug services post-testing.
•Service Impact – Insights into staff engagement, training gaps, and improvements to enhance uptake and linkage to care.
•Workforce Involvement – Over 60 employees have been engaged in the iNSPire project, including drug service staff, peer workers, NHSE representatives, and ODN clinical staff.
Conclusion:
Integrating HCV testing into NSP settings is key to eliminating hepatitis C in England. The iNSPire project shows NSP attendees can be tested and linked to treatment, complementing existing drug treatment models. Strengthening ties between harm reduction services and healthcare providers can improve health outcomes and provide insights for national HCV elimination strategies. Findings will help shape future policies and reinforce the essential role of NSPs in achieving elimination goals.
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