A SEVEN-week-old baby from Colne is undergoing tests for hepatitis B after it was discovered a health worker used a dirty needle during a routine blood test.

Mother-of-two Kelly Hunt was informed by her GP, almost three weeks after the heel prick blood test was taken by the member of health trust staff, that a needle which had been used on another baby had been re-used on her daughter, Jessica.

She was also told that "second hand" needles were used on three other babies in Colne by the same health worker.

Kelly, 18, who also has a two-year-old daughter Natalie, was distraught at the news her baby had to have four tests for hepatitis B and two blood tests. She said: "I am still worrying every day about the results of the tests. Hopefully they will be negative but you never know do you? My first thought was that she might have been infected.

Kelly of Burrell Avenue added: "She has still got to go through three more tests for hepatitis B and another blood test. We were told the health worker has been suspended but someone has told us the worker is back at work now."

Burnley Health Trust today confirmed a staff member had been disciplined. A spokesman said the staff member was at work but refused to say whether they had been suspended at any point.

Kelly said: "I don't like needles so my sister-in-law sat in with Jessica while she had the heel prick done but she told me afterwards that she didn't even see the health worker get the needle out of a proper packet.

"Luckily we don't think Natalie was pricked - I couldn't have gone through both of them having to have injections."

Burnley Health Care NHS Trust confirmed that a procedural error occurred during routine blood tests carried out in late June/early July on four newly born babies.

They admit the error involved the re-use of a piece of equipment that had been used once before and that the member of staff involved immediately notified senior staff and a full investigation by the Trust was initiated.

The Trust's Director of Nursing and Quality, Lesley Doherty, said: "Since the incident was reported to us we have been able to identify specifically what has happened and how it happened.

"Procedures to ensure that a similar type of incident could not happen again have been implemented and staff fully briefed. We are extremely conscious of the effect an incident like this can have on the parents and their relatives.

"By coming forward immediately and admitting that something had gone wrong, the member of staff involved has put the needs of the patients first."

Kelly is hoping to get in contact with the parents of the other three babies affected.

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