Overview
- Orthodontic tools used on February 25–26 were disinfected but not autoclaved, with the issue found during routine checks on February 27.
- The affected instruments included pliers and a mirror used in brace fittings at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital.
- Twenty-one patients, including a 15-year-old, are undergoing screening for HIV and hepatitis over a six‑month schedule.
- The health board says it contacted patients on March 16, though one family received a hand-delivered letter on March 19 after earlier attempts failed.
- A whistleblower alerted local media, prompting political calls for transparency and a full investigation, as the health board apologised and opened a formal review.