Is travel-time to a specialist centre a risk factor for non-referral, non-attendance and loss to follow-up among patients with hepatitis C (HCV) infection?

► Poor geographic access is a known barrier for referral to and utilisation of various specialist healthcare services. ► We find patients with hepatitis C (HCV) living further from a specialist centre are less likely to be referred for treatment that could prevent the manifestation of liver cirrhosis and cancer. ► Once referred, deprivation and drug use are significant predictors of subsequent utilisation, but travel-time to specialist healthcare is not.