Role of nurses and allied health professionals in hepatology and the challenges faced when navigating a career pathway.
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Authors
Spillman L.
Backhouse D.
Cox L.
Ballesteros K.
Ramos K.
Williams, F.
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Issue Date
2025
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Article
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Abstract
Hepatology specialist nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs), including dietitians and physiotherapists, are essential members of the multidisciplinary team, delivering person-centred care from prevention through to advanced disease. Their contributions support lifestyle intervention, symptom management and care coordination, improving patient outcomes and service efficiency. Despite this, roles remain underfunded, inconsistently embedded and often overlooked in workforce planning. This article outlines the impact and challenges facing hepatology nurses and AHPs, drawing on UK service examples that demonstrate improved quality of life, reduced admissions, recompensation and cost savings. Barriers include limited access to structured training, protected time and clearly defined career pathways. To address this, the article proposes practical, system-wide actions. These include embedding enhanced and advanced roles within all hepatology services; developing national AHP competencies and nurse- and AHP-specific quality standards; and securing sustainable funding to support new roles and career progression. Formal integration of nurses and AHPs into workforce planning, service design, guideline development and research is essential. A national/international training programme is urgently needed to provide a consistent foundation for hepatology nurses and AHP practice. Now is the time to move beyond pockets of good practice and establish a nationally supported, sustainable approach that ensures equitable access to multidisciplinary hepatology expertise across all services. Strengthening the hepatology nurse and AHP workforce is critical to meeting the growing complexity and burden of liver disease. Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
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Frontline Gastroenterology
Volume
16
Issue
10