A DOCTOR who once treated Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing a new medical negligence complaint from the family of a cancer victim.

Health bosses have confirmed that they have received a complaint from the family of the late Norman Heath, 48, from Trimdon Colliery, County Durham.

The GP at the centre of the complaint is Dr Sivaguranathan Srirangalingam, who is known as "Dr Sri".

Two months ago the General Medical Council suspended Dr Sri from the medical register for nine months after he failed to show that he had improved his clinical skills.

The GMC intervened two years ago after complaints of medical negligence.

His family believe Dr Sri failed to recognise the seriousness of Mr North's condition, despite a football-sized growth on his hip and a tennis-ball sized growth on his neck, until it was too late.

Two years ago the GP, who practises within a few hundred yards of Mr Blair's constituency home, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct after allegations that he neglected three patients between 1994 and 1996.

While Dr Sri was allowed to continue practising at his Trimdon surgery he was ordered to improve his clinical and communications skill.

Two months ago the GMC suspended the family doctor from the medical register for nine months, after hearing evidence that he had failed to improve his skills.

Before the nine month suspension period is over Dr Sri will be asked to appear before the GMC for his case to be reviewed.

Mr North's family believe his cancer wasn't spotted early enough. It was only when he was admitted to North Tees Hospital as an emergency case two days before Christmas that doctors diagnosed advanced cancer.

Subsequently he was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle where specialists told the family he was suffering from a sarcoma, a malignant form of cancer which attacks bone, muscle and cartilage.

Mr North received chemotherapy at the Freeman Hospital and was discharged. He died in the Hartlepool Hospice on April 5th.

His mother, Mrs Mary North, said: "I do not want any other family to suffer in the way in which we have."

She feels it took too long to diagnose her son's condition.

"I consider that Norman could, with the correct treatment, have been pain-free during October, November and December," she added..

A spokeswoman for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust said: "We have received a complaint from the health authority and we will be looking into it."

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Health Authority confirmed that a complaint about Dr Sri had been received.

During the recent difficulties the authority has been keeping in regular contact with the practice, he said.

"We have also found a good quality and experienced GP with local knowledge to act as a locum at the practice," the spokesman said.

Updated: 13.05 Wednesday, July 18