ELEVEN women from across East Lancashire have been warned they could have hepatitis C after being treated by a gynaecologist suffering from the virus.

They are among 2,000 "at risk" women from 25 hospitals across England and two health boards in Scotland at which the doctor has worked over 23 years.

The women have received letters asking them to take a blood test to make sure they are safe.

The infected doctor worked in obstetrics and gynaecology at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, for three months from April 1986 to June 1986 but did not know he or she had the virus, which can lead to liver disease.

As soon as infection was diagnosed, the doctor was transferred to other healthcare duties where patients were not at risk.

Although hepatitis C does not often have symptoms, the virus can cause abdominal pain and jaundice, and lead to chronic liver disease.

In rare cases it can cause cancer of the liver.

Today a Queen's Park Hospital spokesman said all patients who were at risk of infection had been asked to call a confidential helpline and would be offered counselling.

He confirmed similar steps were being taken at other hospitals at which the doctor had worked.

Dr Peter Ehrhardt, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust medical director, said the risk of the infection spreading was small.

He said: "We have worked hard to carefully identify any patient who might have been at risk of contracting infection with hepatitis C from this healthcare worker.

"I want to emphasise that the risk of infection is very small and that we are offering them screening purely as a precaution."

The Health Protection Agency alert was issued in accordance with the UK Advisory Panel for Health Care Workers Infected with Blood-borne Viruses.

The helpline number is NHS Direct on 0845 850 2878.