A surgeon has been charged with the manslaughter of a patient who he treated a private hospital in Harrow.

David Sellu, 65, a consultant general colon-rectal surgeon, attended Harrow Police Station by appointment today where he was charged with the manslaughter of 66-year-old Joseph Hughes at the Churchill Clementine Hospital in Sudbury Hill, Harrow, in February 2010.

Sellu, of Hillingdon, was further charged with perjury and will next be appearing at Hendon Magistrates' Court on Monday August 13 although it is unclear if the defendant has been given bail or was remanded in custody.

It is understood the alleged victim had flown from Northern Ireland for a routine knee replacement operation on February 5 2010 and remained at the hospital until he died of sepsis, an illness in which the body has a severe response to bacteria or other germs, the following Saturday.