Infection control issue letters sent to North Berwick dental patients

Kirsty Gibbins • Published 19 Jun 2012 09:30 6 Comments

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More than 3,000 people have been contacted by NHS Lothian after it emerged that a North Berwick dental clinic had failed infection control procedures within a three-year period.

Patients at the Law Road Dental Practice have been written to, following a practice visit by public health/environmental health representatives, advising them that some infection control procedures including decontamination for a small number of instruments did not meet national standards.

Patients have been informed that the risk of infection is very low. Letters were sent yesterday to over 3500 patients as well as staff. Anyone treated by the practice during this period but who did not receive a letter can also contact the helpline.

A dedicated helpline 08000 28 28 36 has been set up as a result, available between 8.00am and 10.00pm, where patients can get further advice about health concerns including for blood borne viruses such as hepatitis B, C and HIV.

Patients registered at the independent practice between 5 February 2009 when it changed ownership, and 23 May 2012 have been informed. The practice is owned by Leonardo Carbiner, registered in the UK with the General Dental Council and is on the Lothian Dental List to provide NHS dental care for patients.

Following specialist public health advice, NHS Lothian has been reassured that infection control procedures at the practice are now satisfactory and are following national standards.

Dr Christine Evans, consultant in Public Health Medicine at NHS Lothian, said: "We are working closely with local and national experts and have concluded there is a very low risk of infection to patients. While general infection control procedures were in place, it was found that a small number of infection control procedures did not comply with national standards.

"Our priority is always the safety and welfare of patients and NHS Lothian has therefore decided to write to inform them of this matter. The letter stresses that no action is required by the patient, but further advice and testing will be available if anyone remains concerned having read the letter and after calling the dedicated helpline. We have taken similar action to inform staff employed by the practice."

"The Law Road Dental Practice contracts with the NHS and sees private patients and is expected to comply with national infection control standards. We are unable to confirm that these standards were adhered to prior to May 23."

The practice has cooperated with the investigation and will continue to be monitored.

Blood borne viruses are transmitted through blood or body fluids. Most often this is through unprotected sexual intercourse (especially for HIV and hepatitis B virus) or sharing injecting equipment during illicit drug use (especially for hepatitis C virus). Other, much less frequent ways these viruses can be transmitted is through contaminated blood products (which now occurs exceptionally rarely in the UK), from the use of contaminated clinical equipment (e.g. healthcare, tattooing, some beauty treatments) where infection control is inadequate and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding.

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ann brown
Unregistered User
Jun 19, 20:46
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i think that this is totally disgusting and he should be struck off the register i have went there for the past 4 years and i can now say myself and my family will not be going back

Recommend? Yes 17 No 6
Helibat
Unregistered User
Jun 20, 16:07
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I agree with Ann brown, what a totally disgusting individual. Fortunate enough not to be registered at this practice, but feel sorry for folks that are. So what next, what is the health board going to do about getting another dentist for all these poor patients who need treatment, how do they know that correct procedures are being followed at this practice. Patients will obviously want to move on, but where?

Recommend? Yes 10 No 5
ann brown
Unregistered User
Jun 21, 09:41
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so these people who say no. think its right to have dirty equipment that has been used on other people put in there mouth .. what are they thinking.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 6
an ex- patient
Unregistered User
Jun 21, 13:37
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Unfortunately I received the worst dental treatment I had ever experienced at this practice, bad infection and a visit to my GP, and time of work to recover. I am sad to say this has not come as a surprise.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 5
Calmed
Unregistered User
Jun 22, 18:46
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Definition of contradiction is to send out 3500 worrying letters and say do nothing. Why send them?

Recommend? Yes 3 No 0
Concerned
Unregistered User
Jun 22, 20:20
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It makes me very angry that a professional person would knowingly take these risks with patients.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 4

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