New mothers in HIV hospital alert

About 200 women have been offered a HIV test after an NHS medic working at two hospitals in Essex was found to have the virus.

The worker was based at Basildon and Southend Hospitals in 2006 and early 2007 and worked with new mothers.

Basildon Hospital said no-one in the UK had ever caught HIV from an infected healthcare worker.

However, letters have been sent to patients of both hospitals who could have been exposed to HIV.

Following an inquiry by the Health Protection Agency, all patients who were treated by the worker, who is no longer employed by the hospital trusts, have been identified.

'Transmission rare'

In a statement, Dr Grahame Tosh, medical director at Southend University Hospital, said: "A total of 66 patients were identified. All of these patients have been contacted and offered an immediate consultation and blood test to help allay any anxieties they may have about HIV infection.

"We are very sorry that some of outpatients could have been exposed to the risk of HIV infection.

"However, it is important to stress that transmission of HIV from an infected healthcare worker to a patient is very rare.

"Such instances have only been reported three times worldwide and never been reported in the UK."

A spokeswoman for Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals NHS Trust told the BBC a total of 126 patients had been contacted and offered a HIV test.

The trust said the healthcare worker was receiving medical treatment and in line with national guidelines had been "reassigned different duties and is no longer involved in any work that may potentially place patients at risk".