Thursday 19 September 2013
All islanders are being notified that a Healthcare Worker who worked in obstetrics and gynaecology in hospitals across the UK, between 1973 and 2002, may have inadvertently infected a number of patients in those hospitals with Hepatitis C.
The healthcare worker did not work in Guernsey at any time. However, women who moved from the UK to Guernsey may have been affected, if they were subject to an exposure-prone procedure in obstetrics or gynaecology, in any of the hospitals listed below, between the dates given.
The health care worker concerned was probably infectious throughout their working career in the UK. The worker was unaware of being infected, and has acted properly and responsibly in supporting Public Health investigations. The patients at risk were treated in UK hospitals during the period 1975 and 2002, and a notification letter has now been sent to all health authorities, including HSSD, by the UK Central Alerting System.
The infected healthcare worker worked at the following hospitals in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland between September 1975 and December 1983:
Hospitals and dates where the healthcare worker practiced obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK.
England
- Grimsby General Hospital (3 Sept 1975 to 6 March 1978) - now Diana Princess of Wales Hospital
- Burnley General Hospital (5 to 30 April 1978)
- Bedford Hospital (3 July to 6 August 1978 and 4 to 19 November 1978)
- City General Hospital, Carlisle (31 Aug to 17 Sep 1978 and 12 April to 2 May 1982) - now Cumberland Infirmary
- Herts and Essex Hospital (4 December 1978 to 10 January 1979)
- All Saints Hospital, Kent (5 to 16 November 1979) - now Medway Maritime Hospital
- Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport (20 July to 2 November 1981)
- Doncaster Gate Hospital, Rotherham (23 July to 18 August 1982) - now Rotherham Hospital
- Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe (27 September to 10 Oct 1982) - now the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal General Hospital, Treliske (8 February to 19 March 1983 and 9 May to 21 June 1983) - now the Royal Cornwall Hospital
- Peterborough District Hospital (28 November to 2 December 1983) - now Peterborough City Hospital
Northern Ireland
- The Mid Ulster Hospital, Magherafelt (11 January to 4 November 1979)
Scotland
- Fife Hospitals (25 March to 3 July 1981)
The healthcare worker worked at the following hospitals in Wales between 1978 and 2003:
Wales
- Wrexham Maelor Hospital (May 15 to June 27 1978)
- East Glamorgan Hospital (May 28 1984 to July 17 1984)
- Caerphilly Miners' Hospital (May 1984 to July 2003)
Further advice on Hepatitis C infection can be found on the website of the Hepatitis C Trust (www.hepctrust.org.uk) who can also provide advice and support to any patient suffering from, or considering being tested for Hepatitis C infection.
For local advice and testing please contact the Orchard Clinic (Dr Nikki Brink) on 01481-707707. The clinic hours are as follows:
Mondays and Tuesdays: 8:30 till 19:00
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 8:30 till 14:00
Contact can be made with relevant members of staff at other times by telephoning the Princess Elizabeth Hospital Switchboard on telephone number 725241 and asking for the Hepatitis C Support Team.
-ENDS-
