Hello everyone,

I am sorry that I haven't posted for a while.

World Hepatitis Week went well here in Scotland. Only one Health Board area agreed to do testing on the bus and they did 10 in one day, not bad at all. Susan and I were joined by local support groups at each location and between us we spoke to lots of people and gave them information about transmission routes and where to go locally to access services.

The media attention was very welcome, an interview with Scottish Television and local radio stations and some great coverage in local and national press.

Last week I went along to an Workforce Education and Training workshop organised by Health Protection Scotland. I am very impressed with the plans and resources available to train everyone involved in the Hepatitis C Care Pathway. The workforce also includes voluntary organisations providing patient support. A truly gold standard service here in Scotland.

I begin my second course of treatment in 5 weeks time for a year. I am looking forward to a successful outcome this time. It will certainly be very different for me this time around. In 2004 I was still trying to hide the fact that I had Hepatitis c from neighbours and colleagues and had no support outside my immediate family.  This time I am comfortable with my status and will have lots of one to one support.

I am so lucky to have met and made friends with so many fellow patients from all over the world. Even having Hepatitis C has a silver lining it seems.