National Guidelines

Links to national guidelines and documentation relevant to the management of Hepatitis C are provided below for further reading.

SIGN Guideline 133: Management of Hepatitis C (National Guideline)

In 2013, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published its updated guideline on the Management of Hepatitis C. The guideline provides evidenced based recommendations covering all stages of the patient care pathway for infants, children and adults with, or exposed to, Hepatitis C infection.

The guideline will be of interest to all health professionals in primary and secondary care involved in the management of people with Hepatitis C infection.

Scottish Medicines Consortium: Advice on pegylated interferon & ribavirin

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has issued advice on the use of pegylated IFN and ribavirin, for the treatment of children from three years of age, adolescents and adults with chronic hepatitis C. Further details are available from their website

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.75: Interferon alfa (pegylated and non-pegylated) and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C

Guidance published in 2004 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.106: Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of mild chronic Hepatitis C

Further Guidance published in 2006 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.200: Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C

Part review of NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.75 and no.106 published in 2010 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.252: Telaprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic Hepatitis C

Guidance published in 2012 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.253: Boceprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic Hepatitis C

Guidance published in 2012 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.300: Peginterferon alfa and Ribavirin for treating chronic Hepatitis C in children and young people

Guidance published in 2013 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.330: Sofosubvir for treating chronic Hepatitis C

Gudiance published in 2015 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance no.331: Simeprevir in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for treatment of genotypes 1 and 4 chronic Hepatitis C

Guidance published in 2015 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), including a quick reference guide and information for patients.

SMC: Detailed Advice on Telaprevir for treatment of genotype 1 chronic Hepatitis C

Advice published in 2011 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for Health professionals on treatment for genotype 1 chronic Hepatitis C.

SMC: Advice on Boceprevir in treatment naive patients with genotype 1 chronic Hepatitis C

Advice published in 2011 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

SMC: Advice on Boceprevir for treatment of genotype 1 chronic Hepatitis C in patients with compensated cirrhosis who have previously failed therapy

Advice published in 2011 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

SMC: Detailed advice on Sofosbuvir for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in adults

Advice published in May 2014 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

SMC: Detailed advice on Simeprevir for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in adults

Advice published in August 2014 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

SMC: Detailed advice on daclatasvir for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in adults

Advice published in November 2014 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

SMC: Detailed advice on Harvoni for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in adults

Advice published in March 2015 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

SMC: Detailed advice on Viekirax and dasubuvir for treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in adults

Advice pubished in May 2015 by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

National Guidelines for Services Providing Injecting Equipment

Scottish Government published new guidelines on best practice for services providing injecting equipment in May 2010. They are intended for people responsible for the planning, commissioning and delivery of these services.

The guidelines concern the provision of needles, syringes and other injecting paraphernalia to people who inject opioids (including heroin and methadone), stimulants and other illicit substances (for example, prescribed drugs injected illicitly). The guidelines were produced, as part of an action arising from the Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland: Phase II: May 2008 - March 2011 but they equally fit within the context of the principles outlined in the Scottish Government's Road to Recovery Strategy. For many injectors, engagement with a service providing injecting equipment is a first step towards recovery.

NICE Public Health Guidance 18: Needle and Syringe Programmes: providing people who inject drugs with injecting equipment.

Guidance published in 2009 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for anyone who provides or commisions a needle and syringe programme, including those working in pharmacies and drug (and alcohol) action teams.

NICE Public Health Guidance 52: Needle and Syringe Programmes

Updated guidance published in March 2014 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on needle and syringe exchange programmes including those provided by pharmacies and drug services for adults and young people (including those under 16) who inject drugs, including image and performance enhancing drugs.

NICE Public Health Guidance 43: Hepatitis B and C: ways to promote and offer testing to people at increased risk of infection.

Guidance published in 2012 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for on ways to promote and offer testing to people at increased risk of hepatitis B and C infection.