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Public Health England has published its annual hepatitis C 2016 report, showing that 2015 saw the first recorded fall in the number of deaths from hepatitis C in the UK.

Treatment rates saw an increase of around 40 percent in 2015, up to 8,970 from an average of 6,400 in previous years, as a result of improved access to newer drugs offering improved cure rates, fewer side effects and greater ease of use.

As such, deaths from hepatitis C-related end-stage liver disease and liver cancer declined, suggesting these newer therapies may be having a positive impact.

Earlier this year, the World Health Assembly adopted a global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis for 2016 to 2021, calling for a ten percent reduction in hepatitis C deaths by 2020. The UK is now on course to surpass this target.

Dr Helen Harris, hepatitis C expert at Public Health England, said: "It’s early days, but with more patients being tested and improved treatments, there is genuine hope that we are seeing an impact on the number of deaths from hepatitis C related end-stage liver disease and liver cancer."

It is estimated that 160,000 people in England are living with hepatitis C, with many unaware they have the disease.