Kingston residents invited to show their livers some love

Appointments on the liver health bus take less than 10 minutes and let participants know how healthy their liver is and what they can do to improve and keep it healthy in the future. The check-up involves a scan and a finger-prick blood test and those showing signs of possible liver damage will be offered further support.

Some risk factors make it harder to keep your liver healthy, these include:

• drinking too much alcohol
• suffering with non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Type2 Diabetes or a viral Hepatitis infection
• being overweight.

Anyone can drop-in for a scan during the week, but the bus will be making special stops to support those in the community more at risk of liver disease, including members of the Korean community and people currently experiencing homelessness.

Unfortunately, your liver can be quite poorly before it causes noticeable symptoms, so these events are all about prevention as well as finding those in our community who may already have liver damage and not realise.”

Dr Nick Merrifield, Kingston GP

Kingston GP, Dr Nick Merrifield, has worked with the team from St George’s Hospital to set up the events. He explained: “The liver is a very important organ in the body, and we really want to help people understand how important it is to keep it healthy.

“Unfortunately, your liver can be quite poorly before it causes noticeable symptoms, so these events are all about prevention as well as finding those in our community who may already have liver damage and not realise.

“We are keen to reach those with particular risk factors, but I’d encourage anyone who is concerned about their liver health to visit one of the sessions at the end of the month.” 

Events will be held: