HIV medics rethink

The Department of Health is reviewing its policy that prevents HIV-positive surgeons and dentists from working in the UK.

Under current rules HIV-positive health workers are not allowed to carry out invasive surgery that could risk blood contamination. However, new guidelines could be drawn up in the next few months.

Campaigners say that HIV therapy drugs make it easier for people with the virus to work in such roles and that there have been no reported healthcare worker to patient HIV transmissions in the UK and only four worldwide.

Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, said “advances in testing technologies and treatment” and “high levels of infection control” supported calls for change.