More than 250 Dental Patients to Undergo Blood Tests in Cardiff Infection Control Scare
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has confirmed that more than 250 patients will undergo blood tests following the revelation that a dentist failed to follow the correct infection control procedures.
The board stated that around 450 patients had been in touch and 252 will have blood tests to check for signs of hepatitis B and C and HIV. Letters were sent out to thousands of people after a whistleblower raised concerns about the behaviour of dentist Mark Roberts from Splott Road Dental Surgery.
Thousands of patients who had been registered at the practice over the course of the last 25 years were contacted by the board and made aware of the situation. Mr Roberts is believed to have skipped important infection control measures and to have used the same instruments on different patients. The board has stressed that the risk of infection is low, but anyone who is worried is invited to get in touch.
In April, Mr Roberts was suspended for 18 months pending General Dental Council investigations and this has recently been prolonged to October 2016. He has said that he “deeply” regrets “lapses” at the surgery.
Claims relate to reused syringe cartridges and endodontic files, which are used as part of root canal therapy.
The surgery is now under new ownership and the board has stressed that there are no concerns relating to the current owners.
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