Nurse dies of Aids after prick from blood test needle

Published on Tuesday 12 February 2008 20:55

A SCOTTISH nurse died more than seven years after contracting HIV while taking blood from an infected patient, it emerged yesterday.

The needle slipped and accidentally pricked Juliet Young's thumb as she took the sample at the Maudsley psychiatric hospital in south London in June 1999.

Although the Glasgow-born nurse was wearing gloves at the time, she was diagnosed with HIV shortly afterwards and went on to develop Aids.

Ms Young died of pneumonia in January last year, at the age of 42.

A Southwark Coroner's Court jury recorded a verdict of accidental death for the nurse.

The accident occurred as Ms Young carried out a non-emergency blood test in the hospital's Lishman Unit, which treats patients with brain injuries.

A spokesman for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said: "This is a tragic and unusual incident.

"Juliet Young was a valued member of staff and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends.

"We are confident that the trust has, and continues to have, adequate safety procedures in place for dealing with sharps injuries."

The Health Protection Agency said there had only been five reported cases of United Kingdom healthcare workers contracting HIV from patients, the last of which was in 1999.