Smear tests alert

Published on Saturday 13 June 2009 20:02

MORE than 500 women are being asked to repeat their cervical smear tests following doubts about whether a nurse involved in the screening was suitably qualified.

Letters have been sent to the 536 affected women who had their smear tests performed in GP surgeries in Sheppey and Sittingbourne, Kent, over a two-year period from April 2007.

The move follows the identification of an issue with the qualifications of a nurse, said health chiefs at Eastern and Coastal Kent NHS Trust.

Dr John Rodriguez, assistant director of public health and screening lead for Kent and Medway, said there did not appear to be a "massive risk" but officials could not be certain. There was no evidence to suggest that the tests carried out by the nurse were of a poor quality and the laboratory results appear to show what would be expected.