HEP Hero Lucy Mcdonald

July 30, 2018

Lucy Mcdonald

Hepatology Clinical Nurse Consultant

“Everyone is worth the chance of becoming hepatitis C free.”

I’m a nurse working at St Vincent’s in Melbourne. I started here in 2011 as an “interferon nurse” as we were known back then! I’m now working with a great team running the hepatitis assessment and treatment program in Victorian prisons.

I was employed in 2011, as part of the 12 new nurse positions funded by the DoH to increase hepatitis C treatment by increasing awareness and access in the community. Primarily taking treatment away from the hospital /specialist model to community clinics and GP support.

It was difficult to encourage treatment with it’s debilitating side effects and poor cure results. Being part of the journey of treatment advances has been amazing to watch. My role has changed so dramatically.

Lucy’s message to others:

It doesn’t matter who you are; It doesn’t matter how you got hepatitis C; no one deserves to live with a potentially life threatening disease when today’s treatments offer a cure.

LiverWELL, trading as Hepatitis Victoria is the peak community organisation working across the state for people affected by, or at risk of, liver disease and viral hepatitis.

LiverWELL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community.

We welcome people from all cultures, nationalities and religions. Being inclusive and providing equitable services is our commitment.

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HEP Hero Lucy Mcdonald

Lucy’s message to others:

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