Surgeon's 12-month heart op suspension

Wilfred Pugsley, who established the hospital's £57 million Heart & Lung Centre, cannot perform heart operations for the next year. The cardiothoracic consultant has spent the past week before a General Medical Council (GMC) panel.

Mr Pugsley, of Birmingham, stopped doing heart operations at consultant level in 2005 following the deaths of three patients that year. The GMC fitness to practice hearing, which was held in Manchester, heard that Mr Puglsey and his colleagues "lost confidence" in his abilities at the time.

A GMC assessment last year also found his performance "gave concern in basic surgical skills" and was "unacceptable in the test of knowledge and cardiac surgery". The disciplinary panel ruled yesterday that his fitness to practice was impaired.

Mr Pugsley, who is in his fifties, has been qualified in medicine for 28 years, was allowed to keep his registration but must abide by a set of conditions for 12 months which will be reviewed.

He must not carry out elective cardiac surgery, except as an assistant working under the supervision of the consultant surgeon, and must also undergo a personal development plan under the supervision of a postgraduate dean or a medical director.

Panel chairman Michael Menlowe said: "The panel noted that you have accepted your performance was and remains deficient and that you voluntarily and honourably chose to give up your practice in this area."

"Nevertheless, you could practice cardiac surgery. While the panel has no reason to doubt your sincerity when you say that you have no intention of performing cardiac surgery at a consultant level, the panel has a duty to act in the public interest, which includes among other things the protection of patients."