MELBOURNE, VICTORIA: Hundreds of Sunshine Hospital patients are waiting to see if they have been infected with hepatitis B as authorities refuse to disclose full details of a major public health scare.
The Herald Sun understands cases are related to the hospital’s obstetrics department but the health department and other medical authorities refuse to say where the incidents of concern took place.
MORE THAN 650 PATIENTS FACING HEPATITIS B SCARE
More than 650 Melbourne patients may have been exposed to the potentially deadly virus by an infected healthcare worker over the past three years.
The department of health has launched an investigation into patients’ exposure to the bloodborne virus after the unnamed healthcare worker was recently diagnosed.
More than 650 Melbourne patients may have been exposed to the virus.
Lorraine Long, from the Medical Error Action Group, slammed the government for keeping secret the hospital at the centre of controversy, saying Victorians had a right to know.
“It really concerns me when the government releases some parts and then keeps the rest secret, I think sometimes they don’t know what to do,” Ms Long said.
She said the numbers were “colossal” and feared at-risk patients might not have seen the letter sent to notify them.
The husband of a woman, who had undergone two C-sections within the past three years at the hospital, said his wife was disturbed after receiving a letter in the mail.
“It’s alarming because my partner is still breastfeeding our youngest child,” he said.
“They’re not giving us much information, so without knowing, we’re panicking thinking could she be harming our child?
“We can’t get in to see the GP ’til Monday.”
Victoria’s acting chief health officer, Dr Roscoe Taylor, confirmed on Wednesday the health department was contacting 654 selected patients as a “precautionary” measure so they could be tested for the virus.
Sunshine Hospital did not return the Herald Sun’s calls last night.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/authorities-slammed-for-refusing-to-name-hepatitis-b-hospital/news-story/95dcf62cc77471f88e8706833f2a52d2