Menu
07/11/2006
Patient tests offered after hospital worker diagnosed with HIV
More than a thousand patients who were treated at four hospitals in the Midlands are being offered HIV tests after it was revealed that a health worker who treated them was diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis B.
The worker had been in four orthopaedics units: Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, Kidderminister Hospital, Birmingham's Orthopaedic Hospital and Evesham Community Hospital in Worcestshire.
Letters have been sent to those people who have been identified as being at risk, asking them to attend clinics for blood tests. A confidential hotline has also been set up for patients.
According to reports, the infections only came to light when the worker underwent a recent routine health assessment and they are no longer involved in work that may place patients at risk of contracting the infections.
However, a spokesperson for the NHS stressed that there was only a "small risk" of patients coming into contact with the infections.
Dr Rashmi Shukla, regional director of public health for the West Midlands, said: "There is no recorded care of transmission of HIV from an infected health care worker to a patient in the UK and the chance of an infected healthcare worker passing hepatitis B to a patient is low."
(KMcA)
The worker had been in four orthopaedics units: Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, Kidderminister Hospital, Birmingham's Orthopaedic Hospital and Evesham Community Hospital in Worcestshire.
Letters have been sent to those people who have been identified as being at risk, asking them to attend clinics for blood tests. A confidential hotline has also been set up for patients.
According to reports, the infections only came to light when the worker underwent a recent routine health assessment and they are no longer involved in work that may place patients at risk of contracting the infections.
However, a spokesperson for the NHS stressed that there was only a "small risk" of patients coming into contact with the infections.
Dr Rashmi Shukla, regional director of public health for the West Midlands, said: "There is no recorded care of transmission of HIV from an infected health care worker to a patient in the UK and the chance of an infected healthcare worker passing hepatitis B to a patient is low."
(KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
03 June 2011
Healthcare Staff Get Innovative
Frontline NHS staff and other healthcare professionals who come up with innovative ideas to give better patient care are getting their schemes funded thanks to the Department of Health’s Innovation Challenge Prizes. The first winners have been announced today.
Healthcare Staff Get Innovative
Frontline NHS staff and other healthcare professionals who come up with innovative ideas to give better patient care are getting their schemes funded thanks to the Department of Health’s Innovation Challenge Prizes. The first winners have been announced today.
16 May 2011
Training Reforms Threaten Patient Care, Says Junior Doctors Leader
Government reforms of medical training could threaten patient care as much as anything in the Health and Social Care Bill, Dr Shree Datta, Co-Chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee has warned.
Training Reforms Threaten Patient Care, Says Junior Doctors Leader
Government reforms of medical training could threaten patient care as much as anything in the Health and Social Care Bill, Dr Shree Datta, Co-Chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee has warned.
06 November 2009
Working Directive 'Harming' Doctor Training
Restrictions on the working hours of doctors may be compromising surgical education and patient care, warn two senior US surgeons in an article published on bmj.com today. Gretchen Purcell Jackson and John Tarpley argue that greater flexibility is needed in applying these regulations.
Working Directive 'Harming' Doctor Training
Restrictions on the working hours of doctors may be compromising surgical education and patient care, warn two senior US surgeons in an article published on bmj.com today. Gretchen Purcell Jackson and John Tarpley argue that greater flexibility is needed in applying these regulations.
02 March 2004
Regulation will quality assure complementary medicine, says Minister
Better regulation of complementary therapists like acupuncturists and herbalists will reassure patients that they are properly qualified, Health Minister John Hutton said today. There are around 4,000 practising acupuncturists and herbalists in the UK - but they do not have to meet professional standards of training.
Regulation will quality assure complementary medicine, says Minister
Better regulation of complementary therapists like acupuncturists and herbalists will reassure patients that they are properly qualified, Health Minister John Hutton said today. There are around 4,000 practising acupuncturists and herbalists in the UK - but they do not have to meet professional standards of training.
03 November 2004
Patient care set to benefit from £40m Microsoft investment
The NHS is to benefit from a £40 million development effort by Microsoft Corporation to develop a health specific user interface for clinical systems which will improve patient care and safety across the NHS, it was announced today.
Patient care set to benefit from £40m Microsoft investment
The NHS is to benefit from a £40 million development effort by Microsoft Corporation to develop a health specific user interface for clinical systems which will improve patient care and safety across the NHS, it was announced today.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Dry, bright start this morning with best of sunshine in the west. Thickening cloud over Down and Antrim this morning with a few showers, extending westwards this afternoon. Lighter winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Rather cloudy and mainly dry at first, then showery outbreaks of rain extending westwards to most places during the night, turning heavier towards morning. Light winds. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
