A SURGEON, who once worked at Halton General Hospital, has been struck-off for a series of botched operations after four women died and six others were left maimed and disfigured.

Stephen Walker, 44, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council over the operations carried out at Blackpool Victoria NHS Trust.

Mr Walker, from Preston, had previously worked at Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool, as a senior registrar following training spells at Halton, Whiston, St Helens and Chester.

The GMC ordered him to be struck off the medical register for a series of 'seriously deficient' operations. It also found he had acted without 'sufficient regard' for his patients best interests and safety.

The council heard how he had botched a liver operation, four bowel surgeries and five breast reconstructions.

Now the surgeon is facing a coroner's investigation into four of the operations he performed on women who later died.

Lancashire police said a decision on whether to take further action would be taken once Blackpool and Fylde coroner Samuel Lee has completed his investigation.

Government health officials are also to study the GMC findings.

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'Given the wide range of new policies introduced over the last four years to regulate and quality assure clinical practice, the department will be looking into the GMC findings to see if they raise any new questions not covered by policy action in hand.

'Additionally, the regional director of public health is being asked to look into the issues surrounding this case over the next month.'

Mr Walker denied misconduct relating to 10 operations at the Blackpool Victoria NHS Trust.

His name is due to be formally struck off the register within a month although he had the right to appeal.

The inquiry has so far cost the NHS trust £350,000.