Thousands of patients contacted eight years after Lanarkshire medic is diagnosed with Hepatitis C

Professor David Goldberg of Health Protection Scotland said the UK Advisory Panel did not alert patients in 2008, when the surgeon was diagnosed, because there was "no evidence" of transmission to another patient.

However, this changed last year when a patient, who had been treated by the surgeon, was diagnosed with the blood-borne virus. A further case was later diagnosed.

The doctor, who worked primarily at Wishaw General, was diagnosed with the virus during an occupational health test in 2008.
NHS Lanarkshire has admitted it is impossible to say how many patients may have become infected because it is unknown when the consultant contracted the virus.
Some 8,383 patients are being contacted across the UK - the majority in Lanarkshire - and advised to have tests for the blood borne virus at dedicated clinics.
The surgeon also worked at the former Law Hospital but worked predominantly in England before 1982.

Mr Goldberg said the risk for patients is one in 1000 which means around six patients could be at risk.

Routine tests for the virus were only introduced for surgical staff in 2007.

NHS Lanarkshire said all patients who were at risk of transmission have been contacted.

The board refused to give any details about the employee or the two patients or disclose if they are pursuing legal action.

NHS Lanarkshire is working with other health boards to notify patients who may have had a surgical procedure, carried out by the worker between 1982 and January 2008.

The former healthcare worker immediately stopped carrying out healthcare procedures and did not return to clinical practice.

Wishaw General

The healthcare worker also worked at the former Law Hospital but worked primarily in England before 1982.

Patients - mainly from Lanarkshire, but also across Scotland and the rest of the UK - are receiving letters this week informing them of the situation and recommending that they arrange an appointment for a blood test.

Of the 8,383 patients being contacted, 7,311 are from Lanarkshire.

In previous similar exercises either no patients or only a small number have been found to be infected.

Special testing clinics have been set up for Lanarkshire patients who wish to be tested and a freephone number has been set up.

Advice from Scottish and UK experts is that the risk of the hepatitis C virus having been transmitted to a patient during surgery involving the healthcare worker is low.

Dr Iain Wallace, Medical Director, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We would like to reassure people that the likelihood of patients acquiring the virus from a surgical procedure carried out by the healthcare worker is low.

“We know that some people receiving the letter may be anxious about what this means for them. We have apologised to patients for any concern that may be caused by this situation.

“We are committed to supporting patients and are ensuring they have every opportunity to get information about hepatitis C, the testing process and the situation in general.

“We are also putting on additional clinics locally to make it as straightforward and convenient as possible for people to get tested.”

Professor David Goldberg, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Consultant Clinical Epidemiologist, Health Protection Scotland, said: “Although the risk of infection is low, we are recommending that people take up the offer of a blood test to ensure anyone who does have the virus can receive the right treatment. Treatment for hepatitis C is highly effective.”

The healthcare worker was tested by NHS Lanarkshire’s occupational health service in January 2008 and found to have hepatitis C.

They immediately stopped carrying out surgical procedures and did not return to clinical practice.

Although transmission of hepatitis C virus from a healthcare worker to a patient is rare, NHS Lanarkshire and Health Protection Scotland carried out a detailed investigation at that time with the findings of the investigation submitted to UKAP.

Based on the evidence available at that time, the UK Advisory Panel advised that a patient notification exercise was not indicated.

The current patient notification exercise is being carried out after NHS Lanarkshire’s Health Protection Team was made aware in 2015 of a patient recently referred for treatment for hepatitis C who had a surgical procedure carried out by the healthcare worker.

Further investigations identified that it was probable that this patient was infected with the virus during a surgical procedure carried out by the healthcare worker.

Subsequent investigations identified another patient in Lanarkshire with hepatitis C for whom it is also probable that they were infected during a procedure carried out by the healthcare worker.

Leon Wylie, Lead Officer of Hepatitis Scotland said, ”It is very unfortunate that there has been potential healthcare worker related Hepatitis C transmissions in a surgical setting in Lanarkshire.

"It is understandable many patients who are contacted to come forward for testing will be very worried by this as, although the risk is low, some transmissions from worker to patients have probably occurred.

"The key point we want to highlight for those affected is that Hepatitis C is now easily treatable and that there is an over 90% cure rate in most cases..
"People will obviously be very upset to receive a letter asking them to get a test and it is highly likely they will be concerned about not only themselves but also any family members they may have put at risk.

"We want to reassure people Hepatitis C is not transmitted by normal daily activities or contact with others, such as sharing food or kissing. It is only when there is potential blood to blood contact."

Patients are receiving a detailed question and answer sheet with their letter which includes information about hepatitis C and how to arrange to be tested.

People who have received a letter in England have been sent a separate phone number to call with enquiries.

Scottish helplines will be open from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday, from Tuesday 23 February until 17 March 2016.

Details of how to make an appointment for testing are being sent to patients with their notification letter.

Arrangements have also been made in other health boards and parts of the UK to enable patients to be tested.

Did you receive a letter? Are you affected? Contact our health correspondent caroline.wilson@heraldandtimes.co.uk with your story.