A senior consultant at a leading private hospital in Harrow will face trial in November accused of manslaughter over a patient’s death after a routine operation.

David Sellu, a consultant surgeon at the Clementine Churchill Hospital in Sudbury Hill, faces the charge following the death of James Hughes, 66, from blood poisoning after a routine knee operation in February 2010.

Mr Hughes had flown specifically for the procedure from his home in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, but died a week after the operation of sepsis, an illness in which the body has a severe response to bacteria.

Sellu, 65, is also charged with committing perjury by making an allegedly false statement at the inquest of Mr Hughes in October 2010, which was halted by a coroner after hearing evidence from doctors at the facility.

He is accused of falsely stating that he viewed at CT scan of Mr Hughes at 2pm on the day that he died. 

Sellu appeared at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Monday and spoke only to confirm his name and address. He will appear at the Old Bailey on November 19.