Consultation on the management of HIV-Infected healthcare workers launched

A consultation into restrictions placed on the work that can be undertaken by HIV positive healthcare workers has been launched by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, following a review by a group of leading experts.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Jun 2012, 14:43 BST

The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS, the UK Advisory Panel for Healthcare Workers Infected with Blood-borne Viruses and the Advisory Group on Hepatitis jointly examined evidence around the risk of HIV transmission from healthcare workers infected with HIV to patients.

They found that there have been no reported transmissions of HIV from healthcare workers even though there have been investigations involving 10,000 patients who were tested for HIV.

Under the current system, healthcare workers diagnosed with HIV are not allowed to perform most surgical or dental procedures. The present restrictions will remain in place until the outcome of the consultation is decided.

Parallel consultations were carried out in Scotland, England and Wales in December 2011.

This consultation will run for 12 weeks from June 13 ending September 5.

Click here for the consultation.

Hepatitis Scotland