Could you be at risk of liver disease?
Many people with Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) – formerly known as fatty liver disease – have no symptoms but, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are overweight, or drink alcohol above recommended levels per week, you may be at increased risk of having the condition.
The James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) FibroScan Service offers a quick, safe, non-invasive scan that measures liver stiffness and can help identify liver damage at an early stage. It is a type of ultrasound that measures the amount of scarring (known as fibrosis) in your liver and is a painless test that uses vibrations and sound waves. Eligible patients can now access this important investigation via their GP.
The scan;
✅ Takes around 10 minutes
✅ No needles or sedation required
✅ Helps detect liver disease early
Early detection can make a significant difference to your liver health and the JPUH FibroScan service is now being offered at two local sites; the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth and the CDC Oulton Suite at the James Paget.
If you are aged 18+ with either:
• Known metabolic disorders (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, raised BMI)
• Excess alcohol (women drinking more than 35 units of alcohol per week and men more than 50 units per week)
…you are likely to be eligible for a FibroScan.
Clinics are held Mondays to Thursdays 8.30am to 5pm for patients with suspected MASLD, as well as those who drink alcohol at harmful levels. If you think you may be at risk, you can speak to your GP about whether a FibroScan referral is appropriate for you.
Early identification of liver disease helps detect liver scarring before significant damage occurs, enabling timely treatment and lifestyle changes, preventing progression to advanced liver disease, reducing unnecessary investigations, providing reassurance when results are normal, and ensuring patients who need specialist hepatology support are referred promptly.
The Liver team who run the FibroScan service, some who are pictured above, includes; Consultant in Gastroenterology & Hepatology Mostafa Sayed, Advanced Liver Nurse Specialist Tanya Chapman, Liver Nurse Specialist Emma Clancy, Liver Support Nurse Dan Freeman, Liver Surveillance Project Administrator Vicki O’Keefe and FibroScan Technicians Kim Pembrooke, Katie Annison and Zoe Rynn.