Thousands Of Patients Contacted In Scotland After Dentist Found To Have HIV

Sample News Big

Health boards in Scotland have contacted thousands of patients after a dentist was found to have HIV.

The former dentist worked at Kelburne Dental Surgery in Paisley and provided locum cover at Nithbank Hospital in Dumfries; the dentist worked at the surgery until March 2013 and the hospital between April 2004 and 2007.

The health boards have contacted patients of the hospital and dental surgery to advise them of the possible risk; however, they have stressed that there is only a very small risk that they could have contracted the infection from the dentist.

It is estimated that around 3,000 patients received treatment from the dentist at the Kelburne Dental Surgery between the beginning of 2004 and March 2013. The dentist is no longer working.

The vast majority of patients have received letters from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but there are approximately 250 NHS patients and 230 private patients who have not yet been traced; some people have moved and there is no record of their new address.

A statement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Dumfries and Galloway health boards stated that there have been around 30 similar exercises to notify people of risks or incidents within the last 25 years.

It is believed that 10,000 people have been tested as a result of the notifications from the health board and nobody has ever tested positive following dental or medical treatment.

Dr Syed Ahmed, a consultant in public health medicine and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said that the risk of passing on infections is very low because health professionals comply with strict infection control measures.

Join this Discussion

Comments are closed.