Spark is delighted to share that Blackburn with Darwen is ready to declare micro‑elimination of hepatitis C among people accessing local substance misuse support.
This means that almost everyone in the service who could be at risk of hepatitis C, including people who currently inject drugs or have injected in the past, has had a hepatitis C test within the last year. National guidance sets this 90% benchmark as one of the key steps a service must meet before micro‑elimination can be officially declared, so reaching it is a major achievement for the borough.
It’s a milestone that comes after a lot of steady, behind‑the‑scenes work from staff, partners and volunteers, and one that teams across the service say feels both meaningful and well‑earned.
Much of this progress has come from making hepatitis C testing a routine part of support at Spark, something staff say has helped take away fear, stigma and uncertainty for the people coming through the door.
Testing has become embedded in day‑to‑day practice, supported by outreach work, lived experience engagement and close coordination between Spark, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, the Operational Delivery Network (ODN) and Gilead, who will be helping to mark the achievement.
Team members describe the milestone not as a “target hit”, but as something that will genuinely make a difference to people’s lives. Earlier testing means earlier treatment, and earlier treatment means better health, fewer long‑term complications and one less thing for people to worry about while they focus on their recovery.
Staff at Spark say the milestone is also a reflection of the relationships they’ve built with people using the service. Those connections, they say, are what help people feel comfortable enough to get tested, especially those who might not otherwise engage with healthcare services.
Jo Clark, Service Manager at Spark, said: “We are incredibly proud to be able to declare that we have achieved Micro-Elimination in Blackburn with Darwen.
“This not only reflects the dedication of our team in enabling those who access our services to engage in testing and treatment for Hepatitis C, but also the hard work and support of our partners who have worked alongside us all the way to ensure we reach this important milestone for the area.
“We are committed to making a real difference to those in need, and ensuring those who we support are empowered to live happier and healthier lives.”
Councillor Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council welcomed the announcement, highlighting the borough’s ongoing efforts to reduce health inequalities and improve access to screening.
He said: “This is a significant achievement for Blackburn with Darwen and a real testament to what can be achieved when services work together with a shared focus on prevention and early intervention.
“Hepatitis C, if left undiagnosed and untreated, it can have serious health, social and economic implications for individuals and communities. Early diagnosis and treatment prevents onward transmission, making testing a key public health intervention.
“Micro‑elimination of Hepatitis C among people accessing substance misuse support is a major step forward in tackling health inequalities and reaching those who are often least likely to engage with traditional healthcare. We are proud to work alongside Spark and our partners to make testing and treatment more accessible, and to ensure residents have the opportunity to live healthier lives.”
Although there will be celebrations, the team is clear that the work doesn’t stop here. Spark will continue to follow its Service Action Plan to make sure testing remains consistent and accessible, and that the progress made so far is sustained in the long term.
For now, staff say they’re simply proud of the people they support, proud of the partnerships across the borough and proud of what can be achieved when services work together with compassion and persistence.