More than 60 children are to be screened for tuberculosis (TB) after it was revealed a healthcare worker at Mayday Hospital has been diagnosed with the disease.
The member of staff whose details are not being made public worked at Mayday Hospital's children's ward last year and has since been diagnosed with the infection. They no longer work for the NHS.
Hospital bosses have contacted 63 patients under the age of 16 who came into close contact with the health worker and whose immune systems may have been suppressed at the time as a "safety precaution".
Thirty-four members of staff who came into regular contact with the infected health worker are also being screened.
Parents of a further 250 children treated on the ward, who were not in prolonged contact with the infected health worker, have also been written to.
Gavin Marsh, medical director at Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "The risk of contracting TB is linked to how long you have been exposed to someone with the disease, your medical condition at the time and whether your immune system is suppressed.
"The likelihood of anyone contracting TB from this healthcare worker is very small but the hospital is taking seriously its responsibility to put patients' minds at ease.
"In situations like this hospitals follow the national guidelines set by the British Thoracic Society and we have sought guidance from the Health Protection Agency.
"I would like to reassure everyone who uses Mayday's services that they have not been exposed to unnecessary risk."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article