Name: BSG LIVE 2026 Public Health Engagement Programme
Start: 2026-06-21
End: 2026-06-25
Location: Metquarter Liverpool

Contents

Free FibroScan checks during BSG LIVE
Colin the Colon at Metquarter Liverpool
Why early testing is being pushed in Liverpool
What residents can do before booking opens

Liverpool residents will be offered free liver health checks in June as part of the BSG LIVE 2026 Public Health Engagement Programme, a city-region initiative linked to the flagship annual conference of The British Society of Gastroenterology.

The programme runs alongside BSG LIVE 2026, which takes place in Liverpool from 22 to 25 June. A linked public exhibit, Colin the Colon, will be at Metquarter Liverpool on Sunday 21 June. The checks are free, aimed at the general public, and booking details for the FibroScan appointments are due to be shared closer to the event. No public start or finish times have yet been published in the source material.

Free FibroScan checks during BSG LIVE

The public health programme will make free FibroScan liver health checks available to people living in Liverpool while BSG LIVE 2026 is in the city.

FibroScan tests are described by the organisers as quick, non-invasive and painless. Their purpose is to detect early signs of liver disease before symptoms appear, giving people a chance to seek earlier advice, treatment or lifestyle support.

The programme is being delivered by Liverpool Experience Campus (LEX), The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), the British Liver Trust, Liverpool Convention Bureau and Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team.

Liverpool City Council’s source material places the initiative in a wider public-health context: liver disease is described as the third leading cause of premature death in the UK, with around 90% of cases preventable. Alcohol-related liver disease is also identified as one of the few major causes of death still rising among people under 75.

Colin the Colon at Metquarter Liverpool

Before the conference begins, the wider engagement programme will bring Colin the Colon to Metquarter Liverpool on Sunday 21 June.

The inflatable interactive exhibit, from Guts UK, is designed to help people of different ages understand digestive health in a direct and memorable way. Its location at Metquarter places part of the programme in a public city-centre setting rather than keeping the conference activity behind closed doors.

The confirmed public details are:

Detail	Confirmed information
Event	BSG LIVE 2026 Public Health Engagement Programme
Public exhibit	Colin the Colon
Exhibit date	Sunday 21 June
Exhibit venue	Metquarter Liverpool
Conference dates	22 to 25 June
Liver checks	Free FibroScan checks for people living in Liverpool
Booking	Details to be shared closer to the event
Public times	Not yet published

Why early testing is being pushed in Liverpool

The organisers are presenting the programme as a health legacy from BSG LIVE 2026, rather than only a conference for delegates. The focus is prevention, earlier diagnosis and public engagement around liver and digestive health.

A spokesperson for The British Society of Gastroenterology said the society was “delighted” to help create a legacy beyond the conference, adding that the work reflects its commitment to improving digestive health through prevention, early diagnosis and public engagement.

Cllr Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said liver disease is “one of the most significant and preventable health challenges” facing Liverpool. He said free liver health checks in the community could help people understand their risk and take action earlier.

Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, said liver disease often develops silently, making early detection critical. He linked the work to Liverpool’s developing Alcohol Strategy, which focuses on prevention, early intervention and access to support at the right time.

What residents can do before booking opens

Anyone hoping to get a free scan will need to wait for the public booking details, which the organisers say will be shared closer to the event.

People who cannot access a scan during the event, or who are already worried about their liver health, are being encouraged to speak to their GP or local pharmacy. The source material says liver health can be assessed through routine tests and, where appropriate, referral for further investigation.

Support is also available year-round in Liverpool for people worried about alcohol use. River, Liverpool’s commissioned drug and alcohol treatment service, offers free and confidential support, and can be contacted on 0151 706 7888.

Source: Liverpool City Council