More than 300 contact HIV surgeon hotline

A telephone hotline has taken more than 300 calls from present and former patients of a surgeon diagnosed as HIV positive, health officials said yesterday. Most were satisfied with the reassurance that the risk of infection was virtually non-exis tent but "a small number" want face-to-face counselling, Greater Glasgow Health Board said.

All patients of Professor George Browning will receive letters by the end of the week, telling them they are not thought to be at any risk.

The health board set up the hotline - 0800 435 263 - on Christmas Eve after learning last Thursday that the ear, nose and throat specialist, a leader in the field of inner-ear microsurgery, had tested positive.

Officials are trying to trace all the patients operated on by him over the past 10 years.