The government confirmed yesterday that it was considering requiring all new doctors and nurses to be tested for the HIV virus.

Forum Response: Unison

Karen Jennings, national secretary for health at Unison, told ePolitix.com: "Unison understands that public safety is paramount, but we hope this is about HIV and not about recruiting nurses from Africa. At a time when the NHS is crying out for staff this is not a time for scaremongering.

"We believe that if health workers are to be tested for HIV it should be professional, anonymous and not be part of a pre-contractual obligation.

Forum Response; Royal College of Nursing

Dr Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, told ePolitix.com: ""Patients can be confident that they are not at risk from nurses who are HIV positive. All nurses have a duty to work safely and those who are aware of their HIV positive status also have a responsibility to seek expert medical advice.

"It's important that employers in the NHS ensure a culture of trust so that staff feel able to disclose health issues in confidence and seek appropriate support and advice from their managers and occupational health services."

Forum Response: General Medical Council

A spokeswoman for the General Medical Council told ePolitix.com: "There is no provision in our registration procedures under the Medical Act 1983 to allow us to impose such a requirement on doctors."