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| Hepatitis fear at Welsh hospitals as patients infected | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Five thousand people treated at Welsh hospitals are being contacted after a healthcare worker infected two patients with the Hepatitis C virus. | Five thousand people treated at Welsh hospitals are being contacted after a healthcare worker infected two patients with the Hepatitis C virus. |
| The retired obstetrics and gynaecology worker is known to have passed on the infection to the patients at a Welsh hospital between 1984 and 2003. | The retired obstetrics and gynaecology worker is known to have passed on the infection to the patients at a Welsh hospital between 1984 and 2003. |
| It is understood the worker was mainly at Caerphilly District Miners Hospital. | |
| But they also spent time in Wrexham Maelor Hospital and the old East Glamorgan Hospital near Pontypridd. | |
| The worker, who conducted operations, also worked at numerous hospitals around the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. | |
| They are all now reviewing their records and contacting those who may have been treated by the individual. | |
| However, public health officials said that the risk of transmission was low. | |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which covers the former Gwent area, said it had been made aware that a worker involved in the treatment of thousands of patients had Hepatitis C. | |
| It said the virus was known to have been transmitted from the worker to two patients between May 1984 and July 2003. | |
| A review of clinical records has taken place, and obstetric and gynaecology patients who have or may have been treated by the retired healthcare worker will be offered a blood test for Hepatitis C as a precautionary measure. | |
| Some 5,000 patients who have or may have been treated by this person at the three Welsh hospitals will receive a letter that will be asked to ring a dedicated helpline to arrange an appointment in a specialist nurse clinic. | |
| The healthcare worker was based mainly at Caerphilly District Miners' Hospital for seven years between May 1984 and July 2003. | |
| But they also worked for a short time at the old East Glamorgan Hospital between 28 May 1984 and 17 July 1984 and Wrexham Maelor Hospital between 15 May 1978 and 27 June 1978. | |
| Dr Gill Richardson, director of public health at the Aneurin Bevan health board, said transmission could only happen if the healthcare worker had an injury causing them to bleed while treating a patient. | |
| "As a precautionary measure, patients who may have been at risk of being exposed to the virus have been identified and will receive a letter to attend a clinic so that we can ensure they are offered testing," she said. | |
| "Specialist nurse clinics have been set up and we will do all we can to support patients during this time. | |
| "As many as one in 250 people carry Hepatitis C infection and it does not automatically lead to health problems. | |
| "Treatment can help clear the infection in up to 80% of cases, which is why it's important to identify anyone who may be at risk of having been infected so treatment can be started if necessary." |