THE NHS could face a massive compensation claim from relatives of North-East cancer patients who died after a surgeon failed to give them the treatment that could have saved their lives.

An investigation was launched after fellow doctors complained that patients of consultant Ron Rhind were not being given treatment recommended for cancer of the bladder.

The report criticised Mr Rhind and said some of his patients may have lived longer had they received more "aggressive treatment" and been attended to earlier.

Mr Rhind, who has retired, was a consultant at Shotley Bridge Hospital and Dryburn Hospital, in County Durham, between 1995 and 1999. He had previously treated cancer patients between 1980 and 1995 at Hartlepool General Hospital.

In a statement last night, officials said they had contacted 15 patients or their families following a review of the consultant's workload.

Of the deceased, all aged between 65 and 75, two were from east Durham, four from north Durham, and four from Hartlepool. Five other patients from County Durham are still alive.

NHS bosses pledged last night to leave no stone unturned in a bid to find out what went wrong and prevent it happening again.

North Durham Health Care Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool Trust could face compensation claims.

Officials refused to discuss the issue last night. They said relatives had been referred to their local community health councils - the patients' watchdog bodies - for advice on what to do next.

A spokesman for North Durham Health Care Trust said: "Families have just received the news. They need time to reflect."

Mr Rhind also faces another inquiry by the General Medical Council, but he is seriously ill with cancer himself.

Last night, one woman, whose mother was a patient of Mr Rhind when he was working in Hartlepool, told how she was unhappy with the treatment he provided.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said her mother had gone downhill after an operation for a bowel condition.

She said: "When my mother didn't make a good recovery, first we asked then we begged for extra treatment. We felt ignored."

Several weeks later, doctors discovered a burst abscess which needed an emergency operation. Despite the surgery, the elderly patient died later.

Despite there being no suggestion that Mr Rhind had failed professionally, the woman said: "I felt he was arrogant and uncaring."

Hospital chiefs decided to launch an investigation into Mr Rhind's treatment at the end of 1999 after he left his job at Shotley Bridge and Dryburn hospitals through ill health.

His temporary replacement, who has not been named, voiced concerns after he took over Mr Rhind's caseload.

Yesterday, Mr Rhind would not come to the door of his Hartlepool home. He was also given the chance to respond to the report by an independent urologist, but has declined.

Procedures at Durham's new University Hospital and the University Hospital of Hartlepool have been tightened since the deaths.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn declined to comment on the inquiry. A spokesman for Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson said he knew nothing about the case.

Dr Bill Ellis, medical director of North Durham Health Care, said: "I spoke to the patients and their families in the last two weeks and naturally they were distressed. We are very sorry for the distress caused."

Dr Peter Royle, medical director at the Hartlepool hospital, said: "They were deeply shocked. They all said they had got on very well with Mr Rhind and they just couldn't believe what we were telling them."

Worried relatives should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

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