I understand from the Western Health Board that it is the policy to offer vaccination to all staff at risk from hepatitis A and B where it is recognised as an occupational hazard.
An educational programme and an information pack is also supplied relating to hepatitis B. Staff who decline hepatitis B vaccination are required to sign a disclaimer form, while being made aware that they can avail of the vaccination at any time in the future should they have a change of mind. All new employees, whose work requires them to carry out exposure prone procedures, must provide documentary evidence that they are not infectious carriers of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and a clear protocol for screening of new staff is in place.
With regard to hepatitis C, no vaccine is currently available but I understand that in the Western Health Board a policy to prevent its transmission is adhered to which is based on standardised precautions including the use of barrier and safety equipment.
I have been advised by the Western Health Board that, when incidents of infection arise amongst existing staff, confidential counselling by the occupational physician is made available.