Smear tests can be hard to interpret

Letters are to be hand delivered to those who were treated at the Newland Medical Practice in Bathgate over an 18-month period.

Lothian NHS Board has already issued an apology to patients at the Newland practice and an investigation has been launched.

Unsterilised equipment could expose women to HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases.

Our priority is to identify the female patients who may have been affected which involves reviewing the patient records in the practice Dr Brian Montgomery West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust

In a bid to reassure patients the board described the risk of infection as "low".

It is understood a GP raised the alarm last week after realising she had been mixing sterilised and unsterilised stainless steel speculae - the metal instrument used to take vaginal swabs.

They were then used by the GP and her colleagues to carry out gynaecological examinations between 25 March, 2002, and 3 November this year.

Dr Brian Montgomery, medical director at West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust said he was sorry for the "upset and concern" caused by the incident.

"Our priority is to identify the female patients who may have been affected, which involves reviewing the patient records in the practice," Dr Montgomery said.

'Deep regret'

"I want to reassure them that advice from medical experts in this area is that the risk of them contracting an infection as a result of this incident is low.

"We deeply regret that this incident has happened and we are working closely with the practice and NHS Lothian health protection team to ensure that the women who may have been affected are offered support and advice at this time and that procedures for medical equipment sterilisation are clearly understood in all the GP practices across the trust."

The women affected are being identified from practice records and will be contacted individually by letter over the next few days.

Dr Montgomery said patients will be offered counselling, advice and screening.

As a result of the scare single-use disposable speculae have been introduced, he said.

The trust said the incident only applies to women who had an internal medical examination within the Newland Practice during the 18-month period.

A special helpline has been set up on 01506 422 816.