Worcestershire surgeon Sudip Sarker helpline 'receives 49 calls'

Sudip Sarker worked at the Alexandra Hospital for more than two years before his suspension

A helpline set up for patients with concerns about a surgeon suspended from work has taken calls from 49 people, a hospital trust has said.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust set up the service earlier this month to deal with concerns about the work of Sudip Sarker.

He was suspended in October. Deaths of three of his patients had been referred to the coroner, the trust said.

The General Medical Council said it was investigating his fitness to practise.

Mr Sarker had worked at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch since August 2011.

The GMC confirmed he had been subject to a number of conditions against his registration since February, which will last until August 2014.

Lawyers for some of Mr Sarker's patients, Irwin Mitchell, said a joint inquest into the three deaths would be carried out by the coroner for Worcestershire on 11 July.

The trust said it was reviewing the medical records of all of Mr Sarker's patients and that people could still get in touch via the helpline and dedicated email address.