00:01We know that this was a dental practice in Sydney's Inner West in Strathfield, and the Health Alert comes after
00:08a recent audit of that practice that found poor infection control and also poor record keeping, namely the issues were
00:18around the sterilization of equipment as well as general cleaning practices.
00:22Now, as you mentioned, Dr William Tan had been practicing at the Albert Street practice in Strathfield for more than
00:3025 years.
00:32We should note he is now retired, he is no longer practicing, but the concerns following this audit go around
00:38the potential exposure that some patients may have had to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
00:47We should stress there have been no confirmed cases of bloodborne viruses, but this is a precautionary health alert that
00:55New South Wales Health has put out.
00:58We should also note that there is a higher risk for people who may have had invasive procedures done by
01:05this dentist, and we heard a little bit earlier from New South Wales Health.
01:09The audit at the premises identified deficiencies in sterilization of equipment and in cleaning practices, and for this reason concerns
01:19were raised about the potential for bloodborne virus transmission.
01:23The risk is low, but we're encouraging testing as a precautionary measure.
01:29We just heard from Dr Zainat Naja there just pointing out that there was a complaint that was made, and
01:35that is what prompted this investigation.
01:37The complaint was made to the Dental Council of New South Wales, and that prompted that audit that was conducted
01:43on April 24th.
01:46Following that, there was an inspection undertaken at the premises, and it found some of those issues that we just
01:52mentioned.
01:53In the weeks after, we know that Dr Tam has retired.
01:58What is further complicating the issue for New South Wales Health, and certainly what has led to this health alert,
02:04is the fact that there were a lack of or poor record keeping.
02:08And that has made it difficult for authorities then to find the people that he may have treated and to
02:13reach out to them.
02:13And that is why they are prompting people to come forward to see their GP or to see their health
02:20professional, to see if they, or to indeed get testing.
02:25Now, we should also know that the ABC has contacted Dr Tam for comment.
02:29And that is why we have the most significant effecting on this issue.
02:30And that is why they are in the
02:30appearance of a group of colleagues who live in the family.
02:30Now, we just talked about that a lot of disability, but it's the fact that there is a lot of
02:31disability and care of all that access of the body to be a normal.
02:31So, if that's not a person, that's a person who has been interested in us.
02:31The fact that it is hit that most of the people, that they are the same.
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