Media Release

Monday 28 January 2008

Liver Group hopes to purchase FibroScanner for hospital

The Royal Victoria Hospital’s (RVH) Liver Support group is raising funds in the hope of buying a specialist FibroScan machine for the Royal’s Liver Unit.

It would be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The FibroScan machine is being demonstrated in Ward 6D at the RVH at 11.00am on Wednesday 30 January.

The machine is a new development in diagnosis. It provides a pain-free procedure offering an immediate assessment of how scarred the liver is. In many cases it can be used as a less invasive alternative to a liver biopsy in evaluating the stage of liver fibrosis.

Last year over 2,500 patients were admitted to hospitals in Northern Ireland and diagnosed with liver disease. Dr. Neil McDougall Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at the RVH said:

‘Liver diseases due to viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease and primary liver cancer are all on the increase.  The common pathway of progression for these conditions is fibrosis leading to cirrhosis. The FibroScan machine uses new technology to allow us to assess levels of fibrosis and scarring in the liver.  It will be a very valuable asset in our treatment of liver diseases.’

As part of its 10^th anniversary celebrations, the RVH Liver Support Group is holding a black tie Gala Banquet in the Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge, on Friday 25 April.

Gordon Cave, Chairman of the Group is appealing for support for this event either by purchasing one or more corporate tables at the Gala Banquet, which cost £1,000 for a table of 10, or by making a financial donation.

‘Our target is to raise £55,000 for the new machine – we need all the help we can get’ said Gordon. ‘This is a great opportunity to be associated with the purchase of such a revolutionary piece of medical equipment’ he added.

To book a table or make a financial donation please contact either Gordon Cave tel. 028 9145 5520 or Kay Duffy (Vice Chair) tel. 028 8778 4337.