A SURGEON at the centre of an investigation over allegations that he denied North-East cancer patients vital treatment was warned seven years ago to improve his standards.

The General Medical Council is investigating whether Hartlepool and Durham surgeon Ron Rhind gave substandard treatment to 15 patients with invasive bladder cancer, at hospitals in Durham and Hartlepool between 1990 and 1999. Ten of the patients died.

It has emerged that Mr Rhind was warned to improve his case management following the death of former Horden Colliery manager James Hesler in 1993.

An independent review did not criticise clinical procedures, but said communication between Mr Rhind and other medical staff and the family had been less than ideal. Mr Rhind was warned to communicate more with junior medical staff and GPs.

The investigation was launched after concerns about the patients' treatment were raised by a locum doctor who took over from Mr Rhind two years ago after he became seriously ill with cancer himself.

Mr Hesler's widow, Helen, is campaigning to have her husband's case included in the General Medical Council's review of his cases.