A FORMER Accrington woman is taking legal action against health bosses after a doctor was sacked for assaulting her and three other patients.

The mother-of-two said she was traumatised when Dr Alexander Clubb suddenly felt her chest without asking permission. She is seeking compensation from his former employers.

Today the Trust refused to comment on why it had taken three months for them to make the disciplinary action public and said Dr Clubb had been dealt with at a private hearing.

But Dr Clubb today maintained he had done nothing wrong and said he had never had a complaint against him during his 45 year career until the spate of incidents.

The woman, who used to live and go to school in Accrington and now lives at Waterfoot, said she was referred to Dr Clubb at Wesley House, Rawtenstall, after suffering a painful infection last May.

She said she agreed to have a pelvic examination and and laid on the couch while a nurse got some instruments ready.

The 29-year-old woman, who does not wish to be named, said: "I was really nervous because I hate having smear tests and I was in pain."

She said Dr Clubb stood by her shoulder before grabbing her breasts. She said: "I was so shocked I just froze. It didn't feel like something a doctor would do."

When she returned home she told her husband, who immediately made a complaint to the NHS Trust.

Bury Health Care NHS Trust immediately suspended the doctor from duty and, after a disciplinary hearing in October, terminated his contract as a locum gynaecologist for gross misconduct through physical assault.

The woman said she was severely distressed and suffered depression for months.

Her lawyer Jonathan Bridge, of Farleys solicitors, Burnley, said: "We are pursuing a claim from the Trust for psychological injury and physical assault."

David Clements, Trust general manager, said all four incidents were part of longer consultations, with female nurses or midwives present.

He said: "The women had attended for gynaecological examinations and they had not expected breast examinations."

Mr Clements said he did not believe the incidents were sexually motivated and Dr Clubb had been fired for not adequately seeking consent before examining the women's breasts. He declined to say why the sacking of the doctor had not been made public but said: "When he was employed in January, satisfactory references were sought from his previous employer where he had a long and unblemished career."

Dr Clubb, who lives in Stone, Staffordshire, said he had been shocked and upset by the women's allegations.

He said: "I have been qualified for 45 years and I did nothing different in Bury than I did anywhere else. I have never had a single complaint previously."

Dr Clubb said he was not prepared to say publicly why he thought the complaints had come about. He said he was still working and had a large private practice.

He said: "I'm not a nasty man. I have had a wonderful reputation all my working life and still have but it seems it is about to be destroyed, which is not justified."

The case has been reported to the General Medical Council, who said they were considering taking action.