More than 4,100 female patients have had their treatment reviewed after the actions of a nurse who may have worked “outside their professional remit”.

A review is currently ongoing into the care of patients who attended colposcopy clinics at Ipswich, Colchester or Clacton hospital, which are run by the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

Board papers published by the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, which refer to a “colposcopy incident”.

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

These changed cells have the potential to turn into cervical cancer cells.

The board papers stated that “a number of women have been recalled and follow-up letters sent out which have been agreed by screening services”.

The document continued: “It was confirmed the nurse practitioner may have worked outside of their professional remit”.

The document said that the nurse is being supported following a referral to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

A spokesperson for ESNEFT explained that a number of patients had been invited to attend another appointment, after an “inconsistency in management” was identified.

The care of 4,100 colposcopy patients was reviewed, and just under 3% were invited to attend another appointment.

The 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.”