OVER 450 patients in the west and northwest are to be called for hepatitis C testing after it emerged they were treated by a doctor who had the virus.
The HSE said letters recalling the 457 patients who had attended Galway University hospitals, Mayo General Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital between 2004 and 2008 would be dispatched today. It said the screening was precautionary and it did not expect any patient to have contracted the virus which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
It is understood the doctor who tested positive for the virus no longer works for the HSE.
In a statement, the HSE said: “The healthcare worker concerned was involved in a number of surgical procedures at Galway University hospitals, Mayo General Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital between 2004 and 2008. While the risk to patients is considered to be very low, screening is good practice and will allow patients to be reassured of their own safety”.
It said the hospitals carried out a review of all patient records to identify the patients who needed to be contacted. A blood test is being offered to these patients who were operated on by the doctor, to rule out infection. These tests may be carried out by their GP or at a dedicated HSE clinic.
“Results will be returned to patients and their GPs as quickly as possible but no later than seven days after the test. This is a very fast timeframe and additional resources have been put in place to enable this,” the HSE said.
“HSE West sincerely regrets the worry that reviews like this can cause, but they are carried out with patients’ best interest in mind. We will make sure the review is carried out swiftly and efficiently, and that we provide clear and accurate information to everyone affected,” it added.
Dr Breda Smyth, a HSE public health specialist, said international research indicates the risk of transmission from a healthcare worker to a patient is very remote. “Nonetheless as a precaution, national guidelines recommend follow-up of such patients,” she said.
The letters will give details of a dedicated helpline to address their concerns. The HSE infoline is also available on 1850 24 1850 from 8am to 8pm today and from 9.30am to 5pm tomorrow.
Some 66 patients in the Dublin region, mostly children, were also called for blood tests by the HSE in 2007 after a dentist who treated them tested positive for HIV. All the tests came back negative.