A LIVERPOOL-BASED doctor has denied causing the death of a patient in Ellesmere Port.

Dr Narendra Kumar Sinha, 67, is charged with the unlawful killing of Maureen Lyth, from Whitby.

Mother-of-three Mrs Lyth, who was 63, died in the town on September 14, 2001.

At the time, Sinha had been working for a Liverpool firm which deputises for GPs in the Ellesmere Port area.

Sinha answered the charge against him when he appeared at a plea and directions hearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday.

He pleaded 'not guilty' to a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.

The court heard this allegedly relates to the administering of an excessive dose of morphine to Mrs Lyth, who later died.

The case was adjourned to a pre-trial review on February 9, with a trial date set for some time in March.

The trial, expected to last two weeks, will be hearing evidence from more than 20 key witnesses, the court was told.

Sinha was bailed on condition that he continues to live in Freehold Street, Fairfield, Liverpool.

Sinha has already been suspended by the General Medical Council, according to the Ellesmere Port & Neston Primary Care Trust.

A trust spokeswoman, speaking at the time of Sinha's magistrates' court appearance in July, added: 'He has not been able to practice as a GP in the UK for at least 18 months.'