A breast surgeon sacked from his job in Bradford could be struck off by the medical profession's governing body.

Robert Phipps was dismissed by the Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust last September after an investigation revealed inaccuracies on his CV.

In a double blow to Mr Phipps, from Baildon, the Trust announced today it had rejected his appeal against the decision, while the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons has stripped him of his consultancy status.

Both bodies have now passed their findings on to the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors, who must now decide whether to strike him off the register.

A spokesman for the GMC said: "We have received the reports and are considering what actions to take.

"We can either take no action, impose conditions on his registration, suspend him or strike him off the register."

Mr Phipps, a surgeon specialising in breast disease, worked for the Trust between September 1998 and June 2000, when he went on extended leave.

Although Mr Phipps' sacking was not the result of any allegations against his professional work, the latest events mean he can not apply to work as a specialist unless he retrains.

A spokesman for the Trust said: "After an internal hearing held at the Trust in June, a panel unanimously upheld the decision to dismiss Robert Phipps.

"The Trust has already made its original findings available to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the GMC so they can determine whether any further action in relation to Mr Phipps would be appropriate."

A spokesman for the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said: "The College has decided to withdraw the higher specialist accreditation previously awarded to Robert Phipps in 1993.

"This follows a review of the validity of the accreditation which uncovered technical irregularities.

"The College wishes to stress that the action is being taken on technical grounds and is not a reflection of Mr Phipps' extensive experience in specialised breast surgery.

"Mr Phipps has a right to appeal against the decision."