EFFORTS to reduce the rates of hepatitis C infection in Scotland are being undermined by welfare reforms, campaigners have warned.

Charities say the number of calls from people with the virus seeking help with benefits has nearly doubled in the space of a year.

A report being published tomorrow highlights cases where people have missed medical appointments as they were unable to afford bus fares, or eat healthily to give the best chance of treatment success.

There are concerns that many people are being wrongly assessed as fit to work, while appeals can take months to be heard.

Leon Wylie, lead officer for Hepatitis Scotland, which commissioned the survey with HIV Scotland, said: "They have spent £43 million on getting people into hepatitis C treatment and then the UK Government steps in and in some cases, we have got people who can't get through treatment, so you are effectively undermining that."

Concerns have also been raised over people with HIV being told to seek work despite suffering poor health or having to face disclosing their illness to employers.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: "Our reforms will give people better, more targeted help that takes account of health conditions such as hepatitis or HIV, while helping those who had previously been written off to a life on benefits, the chance to get back into the workplace."