Liverpool residents will be offered free liver health checks this June as BSG LIVE 2026 brings a public health engagement programme into the city region.
The programme runs alongside the flagship annual conference of The British Society of Gastroenterology, taking place from 22 to 25 June. A public exhibit, Colin the Colon, will also appear at Metquarter Liverpool on Sunday 21 June.
Early details are practical: the checks are free, the main public exhibit is at Metquarter Liverpool, and booking information for the free scans is due to be shared closer to the event. Times have not yet been confirmed.
Free liver checks during BSG LIVE
The BSG LIVE 2026 Public Health Engagement Programme is being delivered with Liverpool Experience Campus, The British Society of Gastroenterology, the British Liver Trust, Liverpool Convention Bureau and Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team.
Its most direct public offer is free FibroScan liver health checks for people living in Liverpool while the conference is in the city. The source describes the scans as quick, non-invasive and painless, with the aim of detecting early signs of liver disease before symptoms appear.
Liver disease is described by the organisers as the third leading cause of premature death in the UK, while around 90% of cases are preventable. The programme is being framed around prevention, early diagnosis and support before serious illness develops.
Anyone considering the free checks should watch for the booking details when they are released. The organisers have not yet published a booking route or scan timetable.
Metquarter exhibit opens on Sunday 21 June
The wider public programme begins with Colin the Colon at Metquarter Liverpool on Sunday 21 June. The inflatable interactive exhibit from Guts UK is designed to help people of all ages understand digestive health in a more accessible way.
Metquarter places the exhibit in the city centre rather than behind the conference doors. That matters for families, shoppers and residents who may not otherwise come into contact with a specialist medical conference.
BSG LIVE 2026 then runs from 22 to 25 June, bringing the professional conference programme to Liverpool while the public-facing health work takes place around it.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Event | BSG LIVE 2026 Public Health Engagement Programme |
| Public exhibit | Colin the Colon at Metquarter Liverpool |
| Exhibit date | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Conference dates | 22 to 25 June 2026 |
| Cost | Free liver health checks |
| Booking | Free scan booking details to be shared closer to the event |
| Times | Not yet confirmed |
Why early checks are being highlighted
The Liverpool programme is focused on liver disease partly because symptoms can appear late. Professor Matt Ashton, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, said liver disease often develops silently and that early detection is critical.
He said FibroScan testing in community settings gives people a chance to identify issues before they become serious and access the right advice and support.
Cllr Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture at Liverpool City Council, described liver disease as one of the city’s most significant and preventable health challenges. He said free liver health checks brought into the community could help people understand their risk and take action earlier.
For readers thinking more broadly about symptoms, tests and how to prepare for medical conversations, Munisha also has a practical UK guide to questions around symptoms and tests.
What Liverpool residents can do now
The next practical step is to wait for the free scan booking details, which organisers say will be shared closer to the event. No appointment system, time slots or eligibility details beyond people living in Liverpool have been published in the source material.
People who cannot access a scan during the event, or who are already concerned about their liver health, are encouraged to speak to their GP or local pharmacy. The source 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 anyone worried about alcohol use. River, Liverpool’s commissioned drug and alcohol treatment service, offers free confidential support on 0151 706 7888.
Source: Liverpool City Council
Source check Source trail
This preview uses the published Liverpool event information and avoids adding unconfirmed booking, access or timetable details.
- Confirmed the public exhibit date as Sunday 21 June 2026 at Metquarter Liverpool.
- Confirmed BSG LIVE 2026 conference dates as 22 to 25 June 2026.
- Confirmed the scans are described as free FibroScan liver health checks.
- Noted that scan booking details and event times have not yet been published.
- Source
- Liverpool Express
- Scope
- Liverpool City Region
- Updated
- 2026-06-01 18:50
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