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AIDS/HIV Infected Health Care Workers: Guidance on the Management of Infected Health Care Workers and Patient Notification
Health Department
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Telephone: 0131-244 2270
Fax: 0131-244 2835
E.mail:
andrew.fraser@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.scotland.gov.uk
To Addressees on attached circulation list.
2 September 2002
Dear Colleague
HIV INFECTED HEALTHCARE WORKERS: CONSULTATION ON GUIDANCE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF HIV INFECTED HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND PATIENT NOTIFICATION
I would welcome your comments on the enclosed draft guidance which, subject to responses, will replace the version published in 1998 (issued under cover of MEL(1999)29). It describes a range of key changes in recommended practice. We realise that there are several references to the new organisational arrangements in England and we will consider which of these needs to be amended at the conclusion of this consultation.
This new draft guidance updates advice on the need for, and scope of, patient notification exercises when a healthcare worker is found to have been infected with HIV. This reflects the new policy agreed by Ministers following expert advice from the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) and UK Advisory Panel for Health Care Workers Infected with Blood-borne Viruses (UKAP). They concluded that it is no longer necessary to notify every patient who has undergone an exposure prone procedure by an infected healthcare worker because of the low risk of transmission and the associated anxiety experienced by such patients and, indeed, the wider public.
This draft guidance recommends that the decision on whether a patient notification exercise should be undertaken should be assessed on a case-by-case basis using a criteria based framework. Directors of Public Health (DsPH), supported in Scotland by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH), will be responsible for deciding whether a patient notification exercise is necessary, taking account of the criteria set out in this guidance. UKAP will be available to provide advice, if required, across the UK.
The guidance should help DsPH and other relevant health professionals in:
quantifying the level of risk associated with clinical procedures that are classified as exposure prone; and
providing clear criteria to use when assessing the need for, and nature of, any patient notification exercise.
I would welcome any general comments on the scope and content of the guidance and on whether you consider that there are gaps in the information provided. I would be particularly interested in your views on:
I would welcome replies by
22 November 2002.
Comments should be sent to Wendy McKendrick, Public Health Division - 1, Area 3E(S), St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG (e-mail to wendy.mckendrick@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).
Yours sincerely
DR ANDREW FRASER
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
To:
General Managers of NHS Boards
Chief Executives of NHS Trusts
Medical Directors of NHS Trusts
Directors of Public Health
CADO's
Trust Directors of Nursing
Health Board Aids Co-ordinators
Health Board Directors of Nursing
Director, Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH)
Deans of Medical/Dental Schools
Academic Heads of Depts of Nursing
Directors of HIV Regional Virus Labs
General Manager, CSA
General Manager, State Hospital
Chief Executive, HEBS
Executive Director, SCPMDE
Consultants in Communicable Disease Control
Royal Colleges:
Faculty of Public Health Medicine
British Dental Association
British Medical Association
Medical and Dental Defence Union for Scotland
Scottish Prison Service
Scottish General Practitioners Council
National Voluntary organisations working in HIV/AIDS field
Public Health Institute for Scotland
UNISON
Scottish Practice Nurse Association
Scottish NHS Officer and Joint Chair, Scottish Partnership Forum
Nursing Research Institute of Scotland
Community & District Nursing Association
Scottish Health Visitors Association
Scottish Civic Forum
NHS Education for Scotland
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