Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

Outcome of consultation on a limited relaxation of restrictions on Hepatitis B infected health care workers and oral antiviral therapy

  • Document type:
    Dear Colleague Letter
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    29 September 2005
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Publication format:
    Electronic only
  • Gateway reference:
    5171
  • Pages:
    3
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

Following consultation in 2004, the Department of Health has decided not to ask the NHS to implement advice from the Advisory Group on Hepatitis (AGH) about a limited relaxation of restrictions on hepatitis B infected health care workers. This letter from Sir Liam Donaldson, on behalf of the UK Chief Medical Officers, provides further information on the outcome of the consultation.

The Department of Health received 57 responses to the consultation paper from the NHS, NHS organisations, professional bodies, individual health care workers and others. A breakdown of the respondents is included within the letter.

There was majority support for the principle of the AGHs advice, but this was generally heavily qualified, with the recognition that there could be significant practical problems associated with the implementation process itself that may result in risk of Hepatitis B infection to patients.

Original consultation

Additional links

Travelling?

Related Links

Ordering publications

Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.

Help viewing PDFs

Help viewing PDFs

Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.

Additional Links

Access keys