A FREE talk on Liver Disease will give Oldhamers the opportunity to find out more about the different types and the services provided by Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The talk, which takes place in the Education Centre, Fairfield General Hospital at 11am on December 13, aims to raise awareness of liver disease in the run up to Christmas, when people are particularly vulnerable.

Many people associate liver disease with excessive alcohol consumption and although this can be true it is certainly not the only cause.

Other causes include obesity; diabetes; hereditary conditions; blood borne viruses and even medications. In fact, 33% of the UK population are known to have liver disease not associated with alcohol.

The average life expectancy of liver patients is now 58 years and falling. The UK has the highest numbers in Europe and here in the North West we have higher than average figures of patients with this complex disease.

Gastroenterology Nurse Specialist, Lynne Kendrick, who will be giving the talk, said “Liver disease is the third most common preventative cause of death in the UK. Over 2 million people are affected with thousands more unaware they even have it. There are often no signs and symptoms to alert you until the liver becomes decompensated and close to failure."

There are more than 100 different types of liver disease, which together affect at least 2 million people in the UK. The liver is the second largest organ in the body. It works hard, performing 500 hundred complex functions daily, including: fighting infections and illness and removing toxins (poisons), such as alcohol, from the body.

Liver disease does not usually cause any obvious signs or symptoms until it is fairly advanced and the liver is severely damaged. At this stage, possible symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundi

To book a place contact Angela Greenwood on 01706 517302 or email membership@pat.nhs.uk