Thousands potentially exposed to blood-borne viruses at Sydney dentist
Patients seen over more than 20 years are being urged to get checked.
7news.com.auHere’s the latest, confirmed information about Dr William Tam of Strathfield:
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NSW health authorities issued an urgent public health alert urging thousands of patients treated by Dr William Tam to get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV after an audit raised concerns about infection control and patient record-keeping at his Strathfield clinic. Dr Tam has retired and is no longer a registered dentist.[1][3][7]
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The Strathfield practice located at Suite B, 2 Albert Road, Strathfield, is the site referenced in the public health notification. The concerns include sterilisation practices and general infection-control deficiencies identified during the Dental Council of NSW audit.[3][6][1]
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News coverage notes that authorities are attempting to contact or trace former patients, but there are challenges due to incomplete record-keeping over Dr Tam’s 25-year practice. Testing is recommended as a precaution, even though the overall risk to patients is described as low.[4][5][1]
Key sources for this developing story
- NSW Health public health information and patient guidance following the audit of Dr William Tam’s Strathfield practice.[7]
- Sydney and national Australian outlets reporting on the health alert and patient-testing recommendations.[1][3][4]
If you’d like, I can summarize the testing recommendations, provide contact steps for patients in London, or pull the most recent local UK guidance for cross-border concerns. Would you like me to do that?
Citations:
- NSW Health health information and public guidance on Dr William Tam’s case.[7]
- Guardian report on the health alert and infection-control concerns at the Strathfield clinic.[1]
- ABC News coverage on patient testing recommendations.[3]