P155 Development of a patient facing interface for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance at University Hospital Southampton

<h3>Background</h3> Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Despite international recommendations supporting biannual surveillance in patients with liver cirrhosis to facilitate early detection and curative treatment, uptake remains poor — estimated at less than 25% in both the UK and US. The UK currently lacks a formal national HCC surveillance programme, and many patients are diagnosed only when symptomatic. Moreover, a significant number of patients undergoing surveillance are unaware of its purpose and are disengaged from their care. NHS England has identified HCC as a priority cancer for early diagnosis, highlighting the need for structured, consistent, and patient-centred surveillance strategies. <h3>Aim</h3> This project aimed to improve HCC surveillance and follow-up for patients with liver cirrhosis at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), while also enhancing patient understanding, engagement, and communication with the hepatology team. Additionally, we sought to streamline outpatient services and generate a real-time database of cirrhotic patients through the development of a patient-facing liver cirrhosis tracker. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients requiring HCC surveillance were identified via outpatient clinic records and liver ultrasound requests. These patients were added to a digital tracker integrated within the ‘MyMedicalRecord’ platform, offering a unique patient-facing interface. The tracker allowed patients to view their personalised surveillance schedule, access results, and communicate directly with the hepatology team via secure messaging. Clinical details, disease aetiology, and staging were documented. A standardised surveillance schedule was created, including six-monthly ultrasounds, AFP testing, regular DEXA scans, and outpatient reviews. A dedicated digital support worker oversaw the tracker, identified due or overdue investigations, coordinated testing, and ensured appropriate follow-up, with oversight from the hepatology nursing and consultant team. Patient experiences were evaluated through a structured feedback questionnaire. <h3>Results</h3> The tracker provided clear oversight of all patients due for surveillance, reducing missed investigations and enabling virtual follow-up for stable individuals, thus alleviating pressure on outpatient clinics. The digital support worker significantly improved workflow efficiency and reduced administrative burden., For the digitally active, the patient-facing interface enhanced engagement, with patients reporting greater understanding of their surveillance schedule, improved compliance, and increased satisfaction. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Implementation of a digital liver cirrhosis tracker has improved surveillance delivery, patient engagement, and communication. Feedback on this patient facing tracker has been overwhelmingly positive and fits the NHS action on digital inclusion and early cancer detection.