'Dental scare' patients traced

Duff's Maryhill surgery is now in new hands

Greater Glasgow Health Board said it has traced more than 3,600 former patients of a disgraced dentist who treated people with unsterilised equipment.

William Duff, 39, was sentenced to three years in prison last week after he admitted charges of fraud and endangering patients' health by using dirty equipment.

Health officials launched a poster campaign and helpline number for Duff's former patients after his conviction on Thursday at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

A spokesman for the health board confirmed that they would be writing to those identified so far but he said that nearly 1000 patients still had to be traced.

Dr Sayed Ahmed: "small risk of infection"

Doctors have said that the risk of Duff's former patients being infected with a life threatening disease is small.

But they admit that there is a small risk that some may have been exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV.

An existing National Health Service telephone helpline received more than 2,000 calls from worried former patients in the immediate aftermath of Duff's conviction.

Now Greater Glasgow Health Board said it will have a dedicated helpline in place from Tuesday to cope with the huge number of calls.

'Risk of infection'

Dr Sayed Ahmed, consultant in public health medicine at the board, said: "This facility (the helpline) will be offered to the 3,600 former patients who will be receiving a letter from Greater Glasgow Health Board in the next day or so.

"However, the NHS Helpline will still respond to anyone seeking advice.

"We recognise that due to the number of calls some people may have experienced difficulty in getting through to the line.

Duff was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court

"We would like to reiterate that the risk of infection is likely to be small and that despite the time lapse there is no particular agency in getting the blood tests."

Duff's former patients are being advised to call the helpline on 0800 85 85 85.

The disgraced dentist was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to a charge of culpably and recklessly exposing patients to the risk of infection by repeatedly using unsterilised equipment.

He also admitted making fraudulent claims on the National Health Service of more than £11,800.

The offences happened between 1990 and 1994 at his NHS surgery in Maryhill, Glasgow and his home in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.