A DOCTOR who treated a woman who died following routine surgery seven years ago made a series of mistakes because of “inexperience” and “lack of training”, the General Medical Council (GMC) was told today.

Dr Paul Timmis, an anaesthetist, is appearing alongside John Hines, a consultant urologist, before a fitness to practise panel after Carmel Bloom, 54, of Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green, died following an operation to have a kidney stone removed.

She was treated at Bupa Roding (now Spire) in August 2002 but developed complications and subsequently suffered fluid on the lungs, blood poisoning, brain damage and a heart attack.

Dr Timmis, who was called back to the hospital by Mr Hines after Ms Bloom's condition began deteriorating, has admitted he failed to take the proper precautions when transferring her from Bupa Roding to intensive care at Whipps Cross University Hospital.

Giving evidence at the hearing today, Dr Alan Aitkenhead, who is a professor of anaesthesia at the University of Nottingham and wrote a report on behalf of Dr Timmis's solicitors, said: “This kind of transfer is now very rare.

“He would not have been trained. Without that knowledge, I think it's understandable why he made the decision to take her to Whipps Cross as quickly as possible."

Dr Aitkenhead said that while he did not agree with Dr Timmis's decision to transfer Ms Bloom without the right equipment or skilled assistance, he believed he would not make the same mistake again.

He said: “It's an error which came from lack of training and lack of experience, not from some personality disorder.

“It's a lack of knowledge that can be very simply overcome and he learned quickly from it.”

However, the GMC was also told that both Dr Timmis and Mr Hines would have been aware of the possibility that Ms Bloom had a urinary tract infection before surgery and that operating could have increased the likelihood she would develop blood poisoning.

Giving evidence, Dr Timmis said: “It was in my mind that there was a possibility but not that she had developed it.”

He added that he would have expected the release of pus and urine during the operation to “flush away” the infection.

Dr Timmis has admitted all the allegations made against him.

The GMC will decide to what extent he and Mr Hines fell below expected standards and what action should be taken.

Mr Hines is expected to give evidence at the hearing on Monday.