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HUNDREDS of patients, including many in Bexley, have been contacted after the discovery a healthcare worker had tested positive for HIV.

A review of patients' notes going back more than 10 years has led to more than 300 people in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham being notified.

Letters went out to the former patients on May 12.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust in Woolwich is dealing with the issue on behalf of the health organisations in south-east London which are involved.

It is refusing to name the worker, but says the person is not working and is receiving medical treatment.

A spokesman says the trust is trying to protect both patients and the worker by not releasing the name.

The trust's medical director, Dr David Sulch, said: "We have carefully studied all notes to identify any patient who might have been at risk of contracting the virus from this healthcare worker.

"The patients concerned are being contacted and offered confidential counselling and a saliva test.

"I should emphasise this is a precautionary measure and the risk of infection is minimal."

An information line set up by the trust received around 50 calls within hours of patients being informed.

The notification was carried out in accordance with advice from the Department of Health's UK Advisory Panel for Health Care Workers Infected with Blood-borne Viruses and independent organisation, the Health Protection Agency.

Information available from previous patient notifications in similar circumstances has shown the overall risk of transmission of HIV from infected healthcare workers to patients is very low.

Between 1988 and 2004 in the UK, there were 26 patient notifications, but there were no cases of transmission of HIV from an infected healthcare worker to a patient, despite more than 10,000 patients having been tested.

Anybody wishing to know more about the risks can call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

12:43pm Friday 16th May 2008

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