Police probe into dentist patient death follows biggest recall of patients in NHS history

Fears that up to 22,000 patients could be at risk

NHS England has called for all of Mr D'Mello's former patients to be tested for blood-borne viruses (Facebook)

Police are investigating the death of a young woman who died weeks after being treated by the dentist at the centre of the alleged Nottingham blood contamination scandal.

Leeds University graduate Amy Duffield, 23, a patient of dentist Desmond D'Mello's, died unexpectedly in hospital last year.

The move by Nottinghamshire police came as health officials city launched the “biggest recall” of patients in NHS history amid fears that up to 22,000 of Mr D’Mello’s patients could have been put at risk of infection by blood-borne viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

NHS England has called for all of Mr D’Mello’s former patients to be tested for blood-borne viruses after a whistle-blower secretly filmed the dentist apparently breaching clinical standards, alleging he kept medical equipment in the staff toilet and failed to wash his hands and change his gloves between patients

Last night it emerged that Nottinghamshire Police were examining Miss Duffield's death last August, weeks after she had received treatment at the Daybrook Dental Surgery, where Mr D’Mello practised. She was suffering from flu-like symptoms and heart palpitations, and her cause of death was established as viral acute myocarditis.

A police spokesperson said: "Detectives are now working to establish if there are any links between the death and the dental treatment she received. This is all being undertaken in close liaison with the NHS."

Police also said enquires were carried out into the death of another woman, 29, who also died in August 2013 and had received treatment at the surgery. However no evidence was found linking her death to the treatment she received there.

NHS England said that while Mr D'Mello was not infected with HIV or Hepatitis, there was still a “low risk” of infection to patients, prompting worried patients to queue outside an emergency walk-in clinic set up for them in the Nottingham suburb.

The buildings which contained the practise of Dentist Desmond D'Mello in Nottingham. The practice is now under new ownership and the current owners are not connected with Mr D'Mello in any way (PA)

Dr Doug Black, medical director for NHS England in Nottinghamshire, apologised to the thousands of patients caught up in the scare.

He said: "This alleged drop in clinical standards may have put people at a low risk of infection from hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we are advising all patients who have seen Mr D'Mello to seek further advice on what action they may need to take.

"We are extremely sorry for the undoubted worry and concern people may feel on hearing this news. I would like to stress again that the risk is low but would encourage anyone affected to contact the advice line."

Professor Andrew Lee, a public health expert at the University of Sheffield, said: "In reality I think the risk would be quite low and I think it is important the public maintains a degree of perspective here about the real, actual risk posed to them."

However there are fears that breaches of safety standards at the clinic could date back decades. Care Quality Commission inspectors launched a surprise visit on the clinic in July this year, and found the centre did not meet cleanliness and infection control standards.