ATTIC - Access To Treat in the Community

Direct acting antivirals (DAA) are new medications that have been approved for the management of HCV. These drugs have proven to be very effective in curing the HCV, without the need for interferon injections; which have always been used in the past. There are many combinations of DAAs, which treat specific types of HCV. Persons who test positive for the virus are typically referred to be seen and treated by a specialist hepatitis service based in hospital. This means that individuals may sometimes not attend the hospital to commence treatment; or follow up on their management. The study is designed to explore if testing and treating individuals close to their own "local" setting will be an improvement to the current treatment pathway and encourage better involvement with the health care team; as well as looking at what the health care team can do to ensure participants in this test-and-treat trial receive the entire course of drug treatment prescribed to treat their HCV infection. Participants infected with either genotype 1 or 4 HCV infection will be treated with Zepatier, a DAA which works by stopping the hepatitis C virus from (multiplying). The study medication is taken for 12 or 16 weeks depending on the genotype (or strain of HCV). Some participants will be given an additional drug called ribavirin. The study will examine the effectiveness of Zepatier at clearing the hepatitis C virus from the blood and body; and also what particular effects may be experienced by participants who may also be taking treatment for other conditions. Participants affected with other genotypes (not 1 and 4)will be offered standard NHS treatment with the appropriate antiviral combination for these strains.