BMC Public Health 2006, 6:3 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/6/3 pFDaiigtsituernribetsu1twioitnhocfhcroomnipcrheehpeantsiitvise Csemrvaicneagperdovpiedrerpsr oinvitdheer,UaKndbcylihneicaaltlhlegaedosgpraepchiaylit(ySHA, Health Board), numbers of prevalent Distribution of comprehensive service providers in the UK by health geography (SHA, Health Board), numbers of prevalent patients with chronic hepatitis C managed per provider, and clinical lead speciality. Almost one third of the SHAs (32%) did not have a CSP led by a hepatologist and one quarter did not have a hepa- tologist within the SHA. Over half of the SHAs had ≥ 5 prisons, and there was no obvious relationship between the presence of CSPs and the number of prisons. In Scotland, there were CSPs in 6 out of 15 health boards, with the larger centres being in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, and they were mostly led by ID physicians or gas- troenterologists. In Wales five CSPs were identified, one of which was led by an ID physician and four by gastroenter- ologists. Discussion This survey included a national representative sample of consultant clinicians managing patients with Hepatitis C. Page 6 of 9 (page number not for citation purposes)