More than 4,100 tests reviewed after nurse resigns

Over 4,100 patients at Ipswich Hospital as well as at Colchester and Clacton hospitals in Essex had their cases reviewed

More than 4,100 patients had to have their cases reviewed after a nurse potentially worked "outside of her professional remit".

A Nursing & Midwifery Council investigation is ongoing into a former member of staff who worked for East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

According to hospital documents, the nurse was involved in colposcopies - a procedure that takes a closer look at the cervix following a smear test - at Colchester, Ipswich or Clacton hospitals.

A spokesperson for the trust said of the cases reviewed it invited just under 3% of those to attend another appointment.

Colposcopy is undertaken if a smear test - also known as cervical screening - finds changes to cells that cause HPV (human papillomavirus).

These changed cells can turn into cervical cancer cells.

A colposcopy can involve cells being taken from the cervix for testing.

According to documents from the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), an incident was identified by ESNEFT related to its colposcopy service.

The ICB document stated the nurse, who voluntarily resigned from their role, "may have worked outside of the professional remit".

'Inconsistent patient management'

"During an on-going review of the care of patients that attended some of our colposcopy clinics at Colchester, Ipswich or Clacton Hospitals, we identified an inconsistency in the management of a number of patients and so we have invited them to attend another appointment so we can make sure that all aspects of care are complete," an ESNEFT spokesperson said.

"We have made sure that everyone we have invited for another appointment will be seen very quickly and we do appreciate and apologise for any anxiety this may have caused.

"All of the patients who are possibly affected have been contacted.

"If you have not been personally contacted by us, there is no need to worry."

The Nursing & Midwifery Council said due to investigations being treated as confidential, it was unable to comment.

More on colposcopies

Helen Hyndman, nurse service co-ordinator at The Eve Appeal, explained over 5,000 lives each year were saved by cervical screenings.

"It checks for a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus, which causes 99% of cervical cancers, so it is important to attend for your cervical screening when you are invited," she said.

If HPV, as well as changes to cells are found, a patient will be referred for a colposcopy.

"You are in the same position as you are for cervical screening and the nurse or doctor will insert a speculum, as they do for screening, so they can see your cervix," Ms Hyndman continued.

"They will then put some liquids onto your cervix to help show areas where cells might have changed.

"The colposcopist will look at your cervix using a special microscope on a stand with a light. This is a ‘colposcope’ and stays outside your body."

A small biopsy may then be taken to test for the develop of cell change so they can either be monitored or treated, preventing them from developing into cervical cancer in the future.