British patients in HIV alert

HUNDREDS of hospital patients have been asked to undergo testing after it was found a healthcare worker who treated them may have been infected with HIV.

Three hospitals trusts in North and East Yorkshire have written to 519 people, although they have stressed the risk of infection is extremely low.

Managers said they removed the member of staff involved from duties as soon as they were aware of the situation, according to NHS North Yorkshire and York.

A spokesman said: “The individual no longer works in a role where there is any risk of blood to blood contact.”

He or she spent time working at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust and York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

A total of 371 patients have been written to in Hull and East Yorkshire, 47 in Scarborough and North East Yorkshire and 101 in York.

The patients who have been sent letters underwent particular types of procedure, the trusts have said.