Client Confidentiality

It is essential that staff do not treat employees, clients or pupils differently because they are known or suspected to be carriers of a blood borne disease such as Hepatitis B or are HIV positive.

Information about known carriers must be handled confidentially and will only be given to staff who need to know, because of the nature of their work and the risk of accident.  Normal hygiene precautions should be adequate protection for staff, clients and pupils, but care may be required to ensure that washing, shaving equipment and toothbrushes are never shared.

There will not normally be any screening of clients or pupils for blood borne disease such as Hepatitis B or HIV. In particular, there will not be any screening of children thought to be at risk unless there are symptoms requiring medical treatment.

Whilst dentists and medical staff have their own Codes of Practice for protecting against infectious diseases, if a client is known to be a carrier of a blood borne disease e.g. Hepatitis B or are HIV positive then that information, although confidential, should be made available where necessary to medical and dental staff.