Hep C cases to cost NHS £3m

NEW cases of hepatitis C in the Lothians this year could cost the health board nearly £3 million.

The area is on course for record diagnosis levels of the illness, and each patient costs about 9000 a year to treat.

That is on top of the thousands who already have the infection, while there is also concern about the estimated 4000 who are unaware that they have the condition.

By the end of 2011, it is expected 300 new cases will have come forward in the year.