Results of blood tests for hepatitis carried out on hundreds of south Essex women will not be published locally.

Eleven hundred women were called for screening by Southend Hospital last week after it was revealed that a surgeon who worked there for three years was infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Since the alert went out, more than 800 women have accepted Southend's offer of a test and counselling.

Hospital chairman Mike Brookes paid tribute to staff who have worked 14-hour shifts to cope with the extra workload.

The hospital's director of personnel and communications, Steve Buggle, said not all women at risk had wanted the test.

He added: "Most patients have been understanding of the situation and realise there is nothing the hospital could have done to avoid this."

Mr Buggle said a national report, incorporating results from tests at other hospitals where the consultant, Ahmed Shaheen, had worked, and those relating to London patients of another health worker, would be published nationally.

He said: "There will be no hospital report. It would be unfair to patients."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.