Smear test scare

Jean Bell, 58, of Lorrel Avenue, Darwen, is among 450 female patients offered tests for sexually transmitted disease and hepatitis after mistakes made by at a local doctor's surgery.

Today she said the fear that she may have contracted an illness was too much to handle as she tried to recover from breast cancer.

A Primary Care Trust investigation found a practice nurse at Dr Ibrahim Derar's Perry Street surgery, Darwen, had been disinfecting but not sterilising an instrument used in intimate examinations, mostly smear tests, dating back to 1991.

The nurse, Dr Derar's wife Sabria, has been suspended and her case referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for possible disciplinary proceedings where she could be cautioned or struck off.

Dr Derar has been referred to the General Medical Council but has been allowed to continue practising following an appraisal of his other work.

Jean, who works at the late shop Co-op in Church Street, said she could not believe it when her daughter read the letter from Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust telling her of the error on the phone yesterday morning.

She said: "It's just the last thing I need and it's all too much. I'm very upset about it and I'm sure all the other women who've received a recall feel the same."

Doctors discovered pre-cancerous cells following a smear test eight years ago and Jean, who lives alone and has two daughters, Debbie, 33, and Tracy, 35, has had to undergo a colon biopsy every year since.

Her worst fears were realised at the beginning of the year when she was diagnosed with breast cancer - just seven years after a radiotherapy and course of cancer drug tamoxifen eliminated her first brush with the disease in 1996.

Jean had the lump and the surrounding lymph nodes removed at Blackburn Infirmary in February.

She said: "I've been clear now for a good four months but we know that it's a reoccurring cancer and I have to go to see a specialist in three months' time."

Florence Edgar, 59, and her daughter Jane, of Olive Lane, have also been recalled for further tests.

Jane, 36, said: "I had my last smear six months ago and I was shocked to hear the news."

The problems were picked up when an infection control nurse, who started work with the PCT this spring, examined procedures at the surgery.

She offered her services, examining and tightening infection control procedures, to all GPs in the Blackburn and Darwen area and Perry Street was one of the first to take up her offer.

Although Dr Derar and his wife have been unavailable for comment, they have expressed their regret for the incident through PCT bosses.

Women recalled for tests were told there was a slight risk of contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hhlamydia or the human papilloma virus from the unsterilised equipment.

A specialist team has been set up to provide advice and counselling to patients. Testing sessions will take place from next Monday and the Perry Street surgery has been closed to patients for the week.

Anyone with any concerns about the recalls should contact a specially set-up confidential helpline on 01772 904191. Lines are open from 9am to 9pm seven days a week.