Emie WangNSW Health on 13 May 2026 urged thousands of former patients of a Strathfield dentist to undergo testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C after a regulatory audit uncovered infection control failures spanning more than 25 years. Dr William Tam, who practised at Suite B, 2 Albert Road, Strathfield, has retired and is no longer a registered dentist. Up to 5,000 patients may be affected — but missing records mean authorities cannot contact most of them individually.
For affected patients, the medical risk is officially low. The legal questions are far less straightforward.
What NSW Health Actually Found
The Dental Council of NSW inspected Dr Tam's premises in April 2026. According to the official NSW Health alert, the audit identified concerns about both infection control practices and patient record keeping. Dr Zeina Najjar told reporters that "any inadequate sterilisation or cleaning of equipment between patients poses a risk of transmission between patients if not cleaned appropriately".
The record-keeping deficiency is what turns this into a public alert rather than a private notification. Dr Najjar confirmed that "record keeping at the practice was poor so we can't determine an exact number" of affected patients. Estimates put the figure at up to 5,000 patients over 25-plus years.
Dr Leena Gupta, Clinical Director of Public Health at Sydney Local Health District, characterised the bloodborne virus risk as "low" — but that assessment is a clinical one, not a legal one. The recommendation to test for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV stands for anyone who saw Dr Tam between approximately 2000 and 2026.
Healthdirect is taking calls on 1800 022 222, with mental health support available on 1800 011 511.
The Legal Question Patients Are Already Asking
Solicitors specialising in medical negligence have begun fielding questions from Sydney residents who attended the Strathfield clinic. The core question — can I claim compensation? — has a more complicated answer than most patients expect.
Under NSW law, a medical practitioner owes patients a duty of care that includes maintaining infection control standards consistent with their profession. The Australian Dental Association's infection control guidelines, which align with the National Health and Medical Research Council standards, are the benchmark a regulator and a court would apply. A practitioner who falls short of those standards has, on the face of it, breached their duty.
But duty of care is only the first hurdle. To recover compensation under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), a patient must also prove that the breach caused them actual loss — a transmitted virus, psychological injury from the testing process, or out-of-pocket testing and treatment costs.
This is where Dr Tam's missing records become a double-edged sword. The absence of records makes it harder for the dentist to defend his standards. It also makes it harder for any individual patient to prove they were treated with contaminated equipment on a specific date.
The Three-Year Clock — And Why It May Not Apply Yet
A common misconception is that medical negligence claims in NSW must be filed within three years of the treatment. The actual rule is more forgiving for cases like this.
Section 50C of the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) sets the standard limitation period for personal injury claims at three years — but the clock starts from the "date of discoverability", not the date of the negligent act. Discoverability is the date on which the patient knew, or ought to have known, that they had suffered a compensable injury linked to the practitioner's conduct.
For most former patients of Dr Tam, that date is 13 May 2026 — the day NSW Health issued the public alert. A patient who tests positive for hepatitis C in June 2026 has, in principle, until June 2029 to commence proceedings.
There is a long-stop limitation of 12 years from the negligent act in some circumstances, which is why claimants are being encouraged to consult a lawyer promptly rather than waiting on test results to come back.
What an Australian Health Lawyer Would Tell You
A medical negligence lawyer in Sydney would typically advise four immediate steps for any affected patient. First, get tested through your GP or Healthdirect and ask for the results in writing. Second, request your own dental records — even if Dr Tam's records are incomplete, your GP, private health insurer or other dental providers may hold cross-referenced material. Third, keep receipts for every test, specialist consultation, lost wage and counselling session related to the exposure scare. Fourth, do not sign any settlement document offered by an insurer or representative without independent legal advice.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) handles registration questions, while NSW Health is the contact for the public health response. Compensation, however, is a civil matter — neither regulator awards damages, and patients who want a financial remedy will need either a solicitor's letter of demand, a complaint to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, or a District Court claim.
Class actions are theoretically possible where claimants share common questions of fact or law. The "common cause" here is straightforward — a single practitioner's infection control practices. But the individualised nature of damages (was a virus actually transmitted? to whom? when?) often pushes these matters into individual settlements rather than a single class proceeding.
What This Says About Australian Dental Oversight
The Strathfield case is the second major Australian dental exposure alert in recent years, and it has reignited debate about how often private practices are audited. The Dental Council of NSW conducts audits based on complaints, random selection and risk indicators, but Dr Tam's case suggests that gaps in routine surveillance are still possible across a 25-year career.
For patients, the takeaway is practical rather than ideological. If you are uncertain whether a dental practice is currently registered, the AHPRA public register is the authoritative source — see the official AHPRA practitioner search. If your concern is broader regulatory reform, our coverage of AHPRA's recent register changes for sexual misconduct disclosures tracks the same debate from a different angle.
The Dental Council and NSW Health will continue to release updates as testing data comes in. Patients who attended Dr Tam's Strathfield clinic between 2000 and 2026 should not wait for a personal letter — most never will receive one. Talking to a GP about testing, and to a medical negligence solicitor about your rights, is the responsible next move.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Patients concerned about possible exposure should consult their general practitioner. Patients considering a compensation claim should consult an Australian medical negligence lawyer admitted in their state.
