New specialist service to bring amyloidosis care to North West
- New North West amyloidosis service will provide care closer to home, reducing the need for patients to travel to London.
- Liverpool and Birmingham are the first two regional centres to be established, working alongside the national centre in London.
- Clinicians and referrers can find out more at a launch event and amyloidosis conference at the INNSiDE by Melia Hotel in Liverpool on Thursday 12 November 2026 – details below.
People with amyloidosis will soon be able to get diagnosed and cared for closer to home thanks to a new specialist service for the North West that has been commissioned by NHS England.
Amyloidosis is a rare, serious and often difficult to diagnose condition that can affect various organs in the body including the heart, liver, kidneys, nerves, and digestive system. It is caused by an abnormal build-up of a protein called amyloid. Symptoms vary depending on which parts of the body are affected by the amyloid.
The new North West Regional Amyloidosis Service (NWRAS) will be led by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Other local hospitals will also be involved, providing specialist support for patients with specific complications.
Historically, the National Amyloidosis Centre in London provided the only specialist service in the country for this rare condition. The new North West service (based in Liverpool) is one of the first two regional amyloidosis services to be approved by NHS England to work alongside the national centre; the other is Midlands Amyloidosis Service (based in Birmingham).
The North West Regional Amyloidosis Service (NWRAS) will cover the whole of Cheshire and Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Lancashire and South Cumbria.
When the new service launches in November, doctors will be able to refer any patients with suspected or confirmed amyloidosis to the new North West Regional Amyloidosis Service. Cases will be discussed at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting involving clinicians from different specialties.
The North West service will work alongside the National Amyloidosis Centre. Patients may have some assessments in London but most will be able to have their other appointments and ongoing care close to home. The details will vary depending on which type of amyloidosis they have and their clinical need.
Although amyloidosis is not cancer, the type known as AL amyloidosis is managed and treated in a very similar way to a blood cancer called myeloma. Patients with AL amyloidosis will have their care managed by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool and will have some of their appointments there.
They will usually be able to have any treatment they need in their own local hospital – that means people who live in Greater Manchester or Lancashire and South Cumbria won’t have to travel to Liverpool every time.
Patients with TTR amyloidosis will have their care managed by Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and will have some of their appointments there. After initial assessment and initiation of treatment, they will be able to access a lot of the care they need close to home so won’t have to travel to Liverpool every time.
People with rarer types of amyloidosis will still have their care managed by the National Amyloidosis Centre in London.
Dr Stephen Hawkins, Clinical Lead for the North West Regional Amyloidosis Service and a Consultant Haemato-Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The key aim of the service is to improve outcomes for patients with amyloidosis through improved access to specialist services, diagnostic pathways and multi-disciplinary care. In addition, it will support education and clinical research, both of which are vital for these uncommon conditions.
“The establishment of this network has been many years in the planning and we are both honoured and excited to be taking this forward in Liverpool. The aim is to reduce the distances that patients will need to travel. This should improve patient experience, reduce inequity of access and have environmental benefits.”
Dr Rob Cooper, Consultant Cardiologist and clinical lead for amyloidosis at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The development of NWRAS is a major leap in being able to provide specialist care for patients with amyloidosis without having to travel to London. There have been significant developments in how to diagnose amyloidosis quickly and accurately, and importantly in specific therapies that make a big difference to how people are managed.
“This is great news for patients in our region who deserve excellent care as close to home as possible.”
Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director at NHS England in the North West, said:
“This is a significant step forward for people living with amyloidosis across the North West. As a rare and often complex condition, getting the right diagnosis and access to specialist care can be challenging, so bringing these services closer to patients’ homes will make a real this.
“The new service is an excellent example of NHS organisations working together across our region to improve access to highly specialised services and deliver more personalised care closer to home.
“This is in line with the Rare Disease Action Framework commitments to support better access to diagnosis and treatment for people with very rare diseases.”
Launch event and conference
Clinicians and referrers are invited to find out more by attending the North West Regional Amyloidosis Service (NWRAS) launch and educational conference on Thursday 12 November 2026. The event is free to attend.
Event details:
10:00am to 4:00pm (10:00 to 16:00) on Thursday 12 November
INNSiDE by Melia Hotel, 43 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9PP
- Hear from a range of national and local specialists
- Keynote speech from Prof Julian Gillmore, National Amyloidosis Centre
- Demonstration of MDT
- Free to attend
For further information about the launch event or to register for the event, please email lorrainerichardson1@btinternet.com or call 077 111 32946.