More than 2,000 woman have contacted Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for a Hepatitis C test after it was revealed a former healthcare worker had been diagnosed with the virus.
The health board is contacting 5,000 patients who have been identified as having definitely or possibly received certain procedures from the retired obstetrics and gynaecology worker.
The healthcare worker’s main employment in Wales was between May 1984 and July 2003 at Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital, but also for a short time at the former East Glamorgan Hospital between May and July 1984 and Wrexham Maelor Hospital, between May and June 1978.
During the healthcare worker’s career, time was also spent working in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Dr Gill Richardson, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Director of Public Health, said: “We are really pleased with the response from women that have received a letter.
“Forty-three specialist nurse-led clinics will be held across the health board area for the next five weeks, including weekends, and we will continue to do everything we can to support patients.
“We would encourage all women who receive a letter to contact the dedicated helpline number, open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, which is contained in each letter, to arrange their test as soon as possible.
“We need to again stress that the risk of transmission is low and testing is being provided as a precautionary measure.”
The clinics have been arranged, primarily at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, in Ystrad Mynach, with others being held at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital and Bargoed.
In a written statement last week, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The identity of the healthcare worker is not being released. It is extremely important that all Hepatitis C infected patients, including healthcare workers, receive the same right to confidentiality as any other patient seeking or receiving medical care.
“Like most people who are infected with Hepatitis C, the healthcare worker had no symptoms and was unaware of the infection until after retirement. As soon as a transmission was confirmed, an incident response was put in place.”
Since 2007, all healthcare workers who are new to the NHS should be offered a Hepatitis C test and anyone performing surgical procedures for the first time (known as Exposure Prone Procedures) should be tested for Hepatitis C by their employing trust or health board.
Prof Drakeford added: “I want to emphasise that the risk of infection is low and that we are offering testing purely as a precaution.”
Hepatitis C is transmitted via blood-to-blood contact. It cannot be transmitted by social contact, kissing or sharing food and drink.
More information is also available at www.aneurinbevanhb.wales.nhs.uk. Anyone with general concerns can call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.