Thousands of Dental Patients Advised to Undergo Blood Testing in Infection Scare
More than 22,000 dental patients who were treated by a dentist in Nottinghamshire have been advised to undergo blood testing amid concerns about sterilisation procedures.
Patients who were treated by the dentist, who has been working in the county for more than thirty years, are being contacted by NHS England after concerns were raised about sterilisation procedures.
NHS England has stressed that the dentist in question is not HIV positive or carrying any other form of blood-borne infection, despite stories in the media suggesting otherwise. A spokeswoman said that the health status of the dentist is not the issue; patients are being recalled due to concerns about infection control.
A press conference will be held on Wednesday afternoon in Mansfield when more details will be released. This represents one of the largest patient recalls in history in the UK and NHS England has already set up a helpline to provide information and support for those involved.
According to reports in the Daily Mirror, the dentist is being investigated after a whistleblower secretly filmed him failing to sterilise equipment properly between patients. The General Dental Council imposed an 18 month pending investigation in August.
A temporary walk-in centre has opened in Nottinghamshire to provide care for those affected by the scare.
It is estimated that the dentist has treated over 22,000 people in his 32 year career.
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