Liver Support Nurse

Job overview

The Liver Support Nurse delivers a high-quality specialist nursing service for patients with chronic liver disease. Managing a caseload of patients requiring ongoing monitoring, surveillance and clinical review, ensuring care is evidence-based, patient-centred and responsive to individual needs.

Assessing and monitoring patients, identifying changes in clinical condition, interpreting diagnostic results and supporting patients. Working autonomously while collaborating closely with Hepatology Consultants, Specialist Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide safe, effective and coordinated care.

Answering the Liver Telephone Helpline, acting as a primary point of contact for patients, carers and healthcare professionals. Providing expert advice, responding to clinical concerns, self-management and facilitating timely access to appropriate services and treatment.

Contributes to the delivery of hepatology services, including nurse-led clinics, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance. Playing a vital role in improving patient outcomes, coordinating care and ensuring seamless patient experiences across services.

Main duties of the job

• Manage and coordinate a caseload of patients with chronic liver disease, ensuring effective monitoring, surveillance and follow-up.
• Provide clinical advice and support through the Telephone Helpline, acting as a key contact for patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate patients with complex liver conditions, responding promptly to changes in clinical status.
• Interpret blood and diagnostic results, escalating concerns and facilitating appropriate interventions.
• Deliver education, advice and support to patients, families and carers to promote understanding and self-management of liver disease.
• Support hepatology clinics and develop competence in independently reviewing patients with stable liver disease.
• Maintain accurate patient records, databases and surveillance schedules to ensure timely review and follow-up.
• Liaise with primary, secondary and tertiary care providers to coordinate seamless patient care.
• Provide education and training to healthcare professionals on liver disease management and best practice.
• Participate in audit, research, service development and quality improvement activities.
• Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of clinical guidelines, protocols and service standards within Hepatology.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Liver Support Nurse is responsible for delivering a high-quality, nursing service for patients with chronic liver disease across inpatient, outpatient, community and virtual care settings. Working within the Hepatology service as part of the Gastroenterology team, the post holder manages a caseload of patients requiring ongoing monitoring, surveillance and clinical review, ensuring care is evidence-based, patient-centred and responsive to individual needs. As a member of a small, supportive and innovative team, the Liver Support Nurse plays a key role in improving patient outcomes, coordinating care pathways and delivering gold-standard liver care for the population of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

The role involves undertaking comprehensive patient assessments, developing and implementing care plans, monitoring disease progression, interpreting diagnostic investigations and laboratory results, and identifying any deterioration in a patient's condition to ensure timely intervention. Working alongside hepatology consultants and the wider multidisciplinary team, the post holder supports the delivery of  liver services and develops the expertise required to manage patients with stable liver disease within clinic settings.

A key element of the role is providing  advice, education and emotional support to patients, families and carers. This includes explaining diagnoses, treatment options, surveillance programmes and lifestyle modifications, enabling patients to make informed decisions and actively participate in the management of their condition. The post holder acts as an accessible point of contact for patients and healthcare professionals, facilitating effective communication and continuity of care across healthcare settings.

The Liver Support Nurse plays an important role in coordinating patient pathways, including surveillance programmes and paracentesis services, ensuring patients receive timely assessment, treatment and follow-up. Responsibilities also include maintaining accurate clinical records and patient databases, monitoring outcomes and contributing to service development through the effective use of clinical data.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across primary, secondary and tertiary care, the post holder contributes to multidisciplinary working, service improvement initiatives and the development of clinical guidelines and protocols. The role includes delivering education and training to healthcare professionals, participating in clinical audit and research activities, and supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes and service quality.

The post holder is expected to maintain high professional standards, uphold clinical governance requirements and engage in continuous professional development to ensure safe, effective and compassionate care for patients living with liver disease.