Dr Katie Denver, a clinical research fellow at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust who is working on the programme, said: “Liver disease is actually very common.
“We’re very aware of heart disease and cancer. Liver disease never gets the same attention but it’s very common,” Ms Denver said.
The programme uses blood tests the hospital already has from people who have come in for unrelated issues.
“So far we’ve written letters to 700 people. From those, hundreds of people have engaged, have been started on treatments. We’ve had a very positive response,” Ms Denver said.
Ms Denver added that more letters will be sent out to people in the South West in the next few months.