More than 8,000 patients who may have been treated by a former NHS worker who tested positive for hepatitis C are being advised to have a blood test, Lanarkshire health trust has said.

The trust is contacting patients who may have had a surgical procedure carried out by the employee before they tested positive for the virus in 2008 and ceased clinical practice.

At the time of the positive test, the UK Advisory Panel (UKAP) advised that a patient notification exercise was not necessary, the trust said on Tuesday. It was being done now because its health protection team had been made aware of two patients who were probably infected with the virus during procedures carried out by the healthcare worker.

Hepatitis C can be contracted through contact with the blood of an infected person. The trust said that when there had been similar scares previously, either no patients or a small number had been found to be infected.



Dr Iain Wallace, the medical director of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We would like to reassure people that the likelihood of patients acquiring the virus from a surgical procedure carried out by the healthcare worker is low.



“We know that some people receiving the letter may be anxious about what this means for them. We have apologised to patients for any concern that may be caused by this situation.

“We are committed to supporting patients and are ensuring they have every opportunity to get information about hepatitis C, the testing process and the situation in general.”

Most people with hepatitis C show no symptoms for years, meaning those infected may be unaware they have the virus. But if left untreated it can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver. It is estimated that about 215,000 people in the UK have the virus, which can be treated with a combination of medicines that stop it multiplying inside the body.

UKAP chairman, Prof David Goldberg, defended the decision not to notify patients in 2008, saying there was no evidence then that any patient had been infected by the healthcare worker. “I think it’s a very reasonable decision,” he said. “It wasn’t the wrong decision based on the evidence we had at the time.”

He said there was a less than 1 in 1,000 chance of the at-risk patients being infected with hepatitis C.

Testing clinics have been set up for Lanarkshire patients. Arrangements have also been made by other health boards to enable patients to be tested.

Of the 8,383 patients being contacted, 7,311 are from the Scottish county. All were treated between 1982 and January 2008.

The healthcare worker worked in hospitals across Lanarkshire during the period, based primarily at Wishaw general hospital and the former Law hospital. The individual also worked at the William Harvey hospital in east Kent for three months between January and April 2006. East Kent Hospitals University NHS foundation trust has written to 46 patients in relation to this period, NHS Lanarkshire said.

Goldberg, an expert in public health medicine and consultant clinical epidemiologist at Health Protection Scotland, said: “Although the risk of infection is low, we are recommending that people take up the offer of a blood test to ensure anyone who does have the virus can receive the right treatment. Treatment for hepatitis C is highly effective.”

Catherine Calderwood, chief medical officer for Scotland, said: “Public notification exercises like this are not uncommon and are carefully planned and carried out, putting patient safety first. NHS Lanarkshire has worked closely with Health Protection Scotland, Public Health England and UKAP and acted upon their expert advice throughout. The health board has kept the Scottish government and myself informed at all stages of this process and I am satisfied that everything has been done correctly.

“The risk to the public both in Lanarkshire and across the country is low but I would encourage anyone receiving a letter to take up the offer of a blood test, to ensure that those who do need it receive effective treatment quickly.”

Nicola Sturgeon was the Scottish government’s health secretary at the time of the individual’s positive test in 2008, holding the position from 2007 to 2012.

A freephone helpline has been set up for members of the public in Scotland who have questions or concerns on 0800 028 2816.