Probe into 'HIV positive' dentist

The dentist has stopped seeing patients

Allegations a dentist has been treating patients in south London despite being HIV positive are being investigated.

Health officials said they were looking into claims about a dentist at a clinic in Lewisham.

They said the surgeon, who has not been named, had been told to stop work and was no longer seeing patients.

The primary care trust stressed the risk of patients being infected was "extremely low" and a hotline had been set up.

'Take action'

Director of Public Health Dr Chris Watts said: "We are taking these allegations extremely seriously.

"However, evidence shows that the risk of passing on infection from healthcare professionals to their patients is extremely low."

A spokeswoman for the General Dental Council (GDC) confirmed the case has been referred to the governing body's investigations unit.

According to GDC guidelines for dental professionals, anyone who believes their own health condition might put patients at risk is advised to "take action", including seeking advice from colleagues, professional or defence organisations.

The spokeswoman said the council could not comment on the specific case but added any patients of the dentist in question, who will have been contacted by the primary care trust, are free to file a complaint.