By Peter Harvey, Ormskirk Advertiser

A FORMER family GP from West Lancashire is being investigated after a diagnosis blunder.

Dr Iyassu Tekle, who worked at Ashurst Health Centre, Skelmersdale, for 15 years, and former colleague Dr M. Qamruddin were taken to court after failing to spot signs of hepatitis C.

Paul Shinner, 46, from Birch Green, filed a lawsuit against them after visiting the Lulworth surgery 18 times over almost a decade only to be wrongly diagnosed that he was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Self-employed businessman Mr Shinner was eventually referred to a specialist and, after a course of treatment, is now completely cured of hepatitis C which caused him acute leg pains and rashes.

Last week, he won £24,000 from the two doctors in an out-of-court settlement.