It was a privilege to meet Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust (LiverUK.org), along with her dedicated team at the Senedd today as part of their Love Your Liver roadshow in Cardiff Bay.
The roadshow highlights a health crisis facing Wales that can no longer be ignored. The statistics presented by the Trust during their visit are stark and deeply concerning:
Quadrupled over two generations: Rates of liver disease across Wales have quadrupled. Severe inequality in outcomes: Communities facing the highest levels of deprivation see liver disease mortality rates nearly five times higher.
Leading cause of premature death: Liver disease is now the single largest killer of adults aged 35 to 49 nationwide.
Critical specialist shortage: Our health service currently has only 20 liver specialists across the whole of Wales, with just one allocated to Hywel Dda UHB to serve the entire population of Carmarthenshire.
Taking Action
A Quick, Painless Check: While visiting the roadshow, I stepped into their mobile screening unit to complete a liver check myself. The process is completely painless and takes only minutes. Early awareness and screening are crucial because liver conditions frequently show no early warning signs or symptoms. By the time symptoms appear, significant damage may already have occurred.
Know Your Risk
I strongly urge everyone across Carmarthenshire and wider Wales to take control of their health by assessing their risk profile. You can complete the British Liver Trust’s quick online tool here:👉 British Liver Trust At-Risk Checker
My sincere thanks to Pamela and her entire team for bringing this vital health roadshow to the Senedd and raising awareness for an issue that impacts so many families across our communities.
