Tuesday May 25 2010 - Health officials insisted yesterday that all 454 former patients of a surgeon with Hepatitis C have been identified. The former patients of Galway University Hospital, Letterkenny General and Mayo General received an invitation to have a test for the virus yesterday morning, although public health specialists say the chance of them being infected by the surgeon is remote.
A Health Service Executive (HSE) spokesperson said: "Exhaustive cross-checking with GPs, hospital records and hospital databases, including HIPE (Hospital In-Patient Enquiry system), was undertaken to ensure that we had the correct information, including up-to-date information on contact details, for patients."
No cases of a patient being infected by a health worker in Irish hospitals have come to light in recent years.
Meanwhile, the HSE said yesterday that from July 2008 all new staff starting a post in the public health services where they might be required to be involved in an exposure prone procedure (EPPs) were tested for Hepatitis C. A spokeswoman said they were required to provide evidence via the occupational health service that they were immune to, and not infectious for Hepatitis B.
"In the absence of such evidence, a potential member of staff will not be employed in a post whose duties involve EPPs. No appointment will be made until the individual's immune status is established.
"As of July 7, 2008, all new staff commencing in a post which involves EPPs are tested for Hepatitis C."
Each hospital keeps its own records of doctors who test positive and these are not kept centrally. Junior doctors are recruited directly by hospitals and the results of occupational health screenings are held by the local occupational health departments. Consultants are recruited through the Public Appointments Service and an occupational health screening is arranged directly between the consultant and the Chief Medical Officer of the civil service.
"The results of occupational health screenings which form part of the recruitment process are of a confidential nature between the patient (prospective employee) and the chief medical officer/occupational health physician," the spokeswoman said.
Doctors who test positive are assessed by an occupational physician, who will advise them on what their options are as per the national advice.
"If their infection with Hepatitis B is such that they are unable to undertake EPPs then they will be counselled on their career options," she said.
If a member of staff becomes infected a local review will be undertaken and if required national committees are set up.
Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Source: Irish Independent http://www.independent.ie/national-news/all-patients-of-hepatitis-c-surgeon-identified-says-hse-2192908.html
