HIV scare at clinic after doctor used unsterilised instruments during examinations

A GP has been suspended while an investigation is carried out over whether uncleaned equipment was used to do gynaecological examinations.

Now doctors at Newham Primary Care Trust in east London are trying to contact 74 patients who may have been affected between March 2005 and December last year.

They have warned that although risk of infection from unsterilised equipment is very low, they are offering tests for hepatitis B and C, syphilis and the potentially life-threatening HIV.

Up to 70 women may have contracted the HIV virus after a doctor used unsteralised instruments in gynaecological examinations. File photo

The GP, who has not been named, practised at Manor Park Surgery.

One of the doctor's patients, who wished to remain anonymous, told how she had been going to the GP for eight years before receiving a call from the PCT two days ago.

The administrative worker, a mother in her 30s, said: 'The man said, "I've got some bad news for you - you need to come in".

'I said, "can't you tell what it is" and he said "I can't tell you over the phone".

'I arranged to go on Tuesday and then I started panicking and decided to go straight away.' 

The patient underwent swabs, blood tests and is waiting for her results.

She continued: 'It's not just me it affects - it affects my partner and with the other people who need to have tests done, it will affect their partners or people they've slept with.' 

A spokesman for the Newham Primary Care Trust said: 'We are carrying out a thorough investigation of a GP's conduct. The GP is registered to practise in one surgery in Manor Park.

'The investigation concerns the possible use of unsterilised equipment that may have been used to carry out gynaecological examinations.

'A PCT doctor has attempted to contact 74 patients who may have been examined with unsterilised equipment between March 2005 and December 31, 2007.

'Although the risk of contracting infections from unsterilised equipment is very low, we will, as a precaution, offer patients tests for blood-borne diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, chlamydia and syphilis.

'The GP has been suspended while an investigation is carried out.

'A replacement GP has been contracted to insure that the surgery's patients continue to have uninterrupted access to primary health care.' 

The investigation will be completed in August.