Hi Glenn,
tend to agree, we are offering HIV and HCV to all carrying out Exposure prone procedures in accordance with the draft guidance, but cannot insist on HIV.
We offer this as hospital policy in the interest of patient safety.
However in regard to TB we are arranging Chest X Ray even if the worker has a BCG scar if they come from endemic areas such as the Indian sub-continent, as regards the accusation of racism, we are finding a lot of white Docs from S Africa coming over and we apply the same rules to them.
I tend to agree that in the interesty of patient safety we should do an HIV screen on anyone who wishes to conduct EPP's and again justify it on those grounds, if they refuse we could refuse to give them clearance to conduct EPP's, but can you imagine the political fallout!
regards
David
David R Maslen-Jones RGN BA Spohn MIOSH
Clinical Nurse Manager, Occupational Health
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Derriford
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
Tel: 01752 517592 int:57592
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-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Raybone [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 February 2004 13:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HIV testing
Hello all,
can I put a real ethical question to you, especially my NHS colleagues?
We undertake screening for an organisation that provides health care
workers throughout various care organisations. A large majority of these
HCW's have come into the UK from South Africa where I believe the
prevalence of HIV infection is approximately 1 in 3. However we do not
offer HIV testing at pre-employment. Now comes the difficult bit!
The draft document 'Health Clearance for Serious Communicable Diseases:New
Health care Workers' has not really helped as it seems nothing further has
moved with this document.
Whilst we test for TB immunity from an endemic country, can or should the
same apply to a country where the incidence of HIV is so high? Could this
be seen as having racial undertones? Is it discriminating?
Obviously any HCW has a moral and ethical duty and obligation to notify
such infections, but there have been cases where a questionnaire is full
of 'no' answers yet the truth is somewhat different.
I have no real thoughts on what would be ideal here, and just wanted to get
a flavour of what others think or do.
Look forward to hearing from you,
regards,
Glenn Raybone
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