A nursing team has been shortlisted for an award after helping treat hepatitis C in homeless people.

The hepatology team at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has been working hard to find, test and treat people living on the streets who may have the blood-born virus.

The infection, which homeless people are more at risk of having, can lead to liver failure, cancer or liver scarring if left untreated.

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Nurses from the team have tested more than 1,000 people living on the streets and have approached hostels and temporary accommodation services to run testing events.

They have connected with street outreach teams and used a clinical van to test people in the evenings.

As a result of their efforts, they have been shortlisted for the "Nursing in the Community" category at The Nursing Times Awards.

Jo Smith, hepatology clinical nurse specialist, said: "Working on this project was a great opportunity to connect with people that may not have engaged with services for a long time.

"We were able to test and treat many people who were not known to any other teams and direct them to other healthcare provisions that they found difficult to access.

"Our visibility in new areas allowed people to have questions answered and raise concerns about their health regarding hepatitis C and the liver.”

Samantha Readhead, lead clinical nurse specialist for hepatology, said: "By raising awareness, offering screening to identify undiagnosed cases, and ensuring accessible care and treatment, we are making strides towards our goal of eliminating hepatitis C in Sussex by 2025.

"This recognition also celebrates the collective effort of the entire team, whose invaluable support has been instrumental in achieving the project’s success.”

Another team at the trust up for an award is the Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre theatre team.

They have been shortlisted for the "Sustainability in Nursing" award due to a green initiative which has reduced carbon emissions, cut costs and saved patient time.

The winners will be announced at the Nursing Times Awards ceremony in London in October.