This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Report on blood-borne infections
07/03/2006
A working group set up to address the needs of those potentially exposed to blood-borne infections after an assault have published their initial recommendations.
The group - led by the Very Revd Graham Forbes - examined the arguments for and against mandatory blood testing of suspects following criminal incidents where there is risk of infection. And recommended that there should be no legislation for mandatory testing at the present time.
The group has however agreed that:
- More needs to be done to standardise and improve occupational and NHS care for police officers and others who have been exposed to bodily fluids through an assault. The group's detailed recommendations on this will follow in a second report.
- A project should be commissioned to evaluate how incidents are currently managed, to inform improvements to care.
- The issue of mandatory testing should then be reviewed in two years' time, in light of these improvements and the evaluation work.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson today welcomed the group's initial findings.
"I want to thank the group for their work on this complex and emotive subject. Being assaulted is a difficult enough experience for any victim. But even more so, if the victim is uncertain as to whether that attack has put them at risk of a blood-borne infection.
"As I made clear when I established the group last summer, it is vital that the concerns of victims - whether they are front-line workers attacked in the line of duty - or members of the public assaulted in the street - are appropriately addressed, particularly at such difficult times.
"The Executive has therefore accepted in full the initial recommendations from the group. In particular we will make funding available this year for the evaluation they have recommended.
"Meanwhile, I look forward to receiving the group's final report and detailed recommendations for improvements to the way such victims' needs are addressed."
The Very Revd Graham Forbes, chairman of the group, said:
"All members of the group, which included representatives of police officers, support staff, prison staff and clinicians, recognised the potential trauma of being exposed to a possible blood borne virus. That is why we are united in wanting to improve the care given to victims.
"We believe our recommendations offer the best way forward to improve that care today and also to gather evidence about how to shape future improvements. The group welcomes the Justice Minister's swift response to our report and the award of grant aid to enable us to complete our task."
Joe Grant, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said
"This is a significant step in the right direction. We started this because we were concerned about the physical and psychological impact of exposure to blood borne viruses to police officers, their families and indeed to all victims of violence. The medical and other professionals on the group have been supportive and police officers will be grateful to them and to the Justice Minister who will fund further work. We still think legislation will be needed but the project will further inform that debate."
Information on group's remit and membership is available from the following link
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/08/11104235
Its initial report is available from the following link:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/Bloodbornevirus