NSW Health urges former Strathfield dentist’s patients to get tested for HIV, Hepatitis
Up to 5,000 patients of a Sydney dentist may have been exposed to blood-borne viruses over 25 years, but a lack of patient records means health authorities have difficulty finding and alerting them.
Dr., of NSW Health, Suite B, 2 Albert Road, Strathfield. All patients treated by William Tam are urged to contact their GP or healthcare professional to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV as a precaution.
Health authorities carried out an inspection of Tam’s clinic following a complaint to the NSW Dental Council about poor infection control practices and poor patient record keeping.
In a statement, NSW Health said Tam retired following the inspection and was no longer a registered dentist.
Sydney Local Health District public health clinical director Dr. Leena Gupta said Tam may have seen thousands of people over the past 25 years but there were no patient records that would allow NSW Health to contact them.
“Poor infection control practices in Dr Tam’s practice meant that all former patients may have been at low risk of blood-borne virus infection, which could have serious and long-lasting health effects,” Gupta said.
Noting that people with HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C may not show any symptoms for decades, he emphasized the importance of anyone potentially exposed to get tested so they can access effective treatments if necessary.
NSW Health referred former Tam patients to: Fact sheets on Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIVand contacting family physicians or healthdirect For more information.
More to come.
