A JUNIOR doctor was yesterday accused of lying at an inquest into the death of a patient following an operation at a private North-East hospital.

Barry Byers, 60, of Heighington, near Darlington, died after what should have been routine keyhole surgery for gallstones at the Cleveland Nuffield Hospital, on Teesside, in March 2003.

A hearing into his death was adjourned last November after Dr Barto Saayman, the hospital's former resident medical officer, gave evidence that did not appear in his original witness statement.

Yesterday, at the resumed inquest, he was warned by Sunderland Coroner Derek Winter he risked incriminating himself if he answered a question put by Charles Foster, barrister for surgeon Andrew Gunning.

The two doctors gave conflicting evidence to the first hearing about whether or not Dr Saayman contacted Mr Gunning in the hours after the operation to tell him about Mr Byers' plummeting blood pressure.

The dramatically low readings should have warned medical staff that Mr Byers, who suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and angina, had internal bleeding.

He suffered a heart attack brought on by the bleeding and died of multiple organ failure in Sunderland Royal Hospital a week after the surgery.

Dr Saayman, giving evidence via video link from South Africa, said he had called Mr Gunning.

But hospital phone records showed no calls had been made to the surgeon on that night.

Mr Foster asked: "Might you be mistaken about phoning Mr Gunning?"

"I don't think so," replied Dr Saayman.

Mr Foster said: "If you are not mistaken about it then you are lying about it, I unfortunately have to suggest."

Mr Winter told Dr Saayman he risked incriminating himself if he replied. "I decline to answer the question," said the doctor.

Later, anaesthetist Petrina Mallinder admitted she wished she had phoned the hospital to check on Mr Byers after the operation. "My only defence is that I thought it was a straightforward operation," she said.

Senior nurse Joanne Simpson, when asked by Jeremy Freedman, barrister for Mr Byers' widow, Sandra, if his low blood pressure was properly managed, replied: "No".

The hearing continues today.