20
Nov

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Failures reported in the media regarding infection control procedures

Failures reported in the media regarding infection control procedures

With failures reported in the media regarding infection control procedures it’s an opportune time to review [infection control training] and infection control audit needs.  All healthcare professionals and workers have a duty of care to protect themselves and those in their care.

About 22,000 dental patients in England have been urged to report for checks that they have not contracted a blood-borne disease such as HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C following “apparent multiple failures” in infection control by their dentist.  NHS England is attempting to trace those treated by the dentist, who worked at the former dental practice in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, for more than 32 years.  The alarm was raised by a whistleblower in June, with evidence including covertly filmed footage of the dentist, who is under interim suspension.

NHS England says tests on the accused found him clear of blood-borne viruses so there was no risk of infection from him.

However, the continuing investigation has identified that patients seen by him “appear to have been placed at a possible low risk in infection … due to apparent multiple failures in cross-infection control standards while undergoing dental treatment”.

NHS England added that “no findings have been made at this time.

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