A hepatitis C alert has been sparked after it emerged more than 8000 Scots patients may have been treated by an infected medic.

Patients who may have been treated by the former healthcare worker between 1982 and January 2008 are being contacted as part of a public health exercise.

The former healthcare worker tested positive for hepatitis C infection in 2008 and immediately stopped carrying out healthcare procedures and did not return to clinical practice.

Health bosses launched an investigation after the diagnosis of the medic in 2008 but the UK Advisory Panel at the time advised that patients did not have to be notified.

The healthcare worker worked in hospitals across Lanarkshire, but was primarily based at Wishaw General Hospital and the former Law Hospital.

They were 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.

The healthcare worker worked predominantly in England before 1982.

NHS Lanarkshire is working with other health boards and health agencies in other parts of the UK to notify patients who may have had a surgical procedure carried out by the former medic.

Patients, mainly from Lanarkshire but also across Scotland and the rest of the UK, are receiving letters this week informing them of the situation and recommending that they arrange an appointment for a blood test.

Of the 8383 patients being contacted, 7311 are from Lanarkshire. Advice from Scottish and UK experts is that the risk of the hepatitis C virus having been transmitted to a patient during surgery involving the individual is low.

In previous similar exercises either no patients or only a small number have been found to be infected.

Dr Iain Wallace, medical director at 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.

"We are also putting on additional clinics locally to make it as straightforward and convenient as possible for people to get tested."

Professor David Goldberg, consultant in public health medicine and consultant clinical epidemiologist, 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."

The current patient notification exercise is being carried out after NHS Lanarkshire’s Health Protection Team was made aware in 2015 of a patient recently referred for treatment for hepatitis C who had a surgical procedure carried out by the healthcare worker.

Further investigations identified that it was probable that this patient was infected with the virus during a surgical procedure carried out by the healthcare worker.

Subsequent investigations identified another patient in Lanarkshire with hepatitis C for whom it is also probable that they were infected during a procedure carried out by the healthcare worker.

After detailed investigations, including extensive testing of viruses, NHS Lanarkshire submitted a report to UKAP. UKAP endorsed NHS Lanarkshire’s proposal to carry out a patient notification exercise.

Patients are receiving a detailed question and answer sheet with their letter which includes information about hepatitis C and how to arrange to be tested.

Chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood 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."

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