A DOCTOR who groped two female nurses at an East Lancashire hospital now faces a fight to save his professional life.

Dr Patrick Chanda has been ordered to appear before the General Medical Council's fitness to practice panel on November 1 to answer a number of misconduct allegations.

Chanda, 41, was convicted of two offences of indecent assault, at Preston Crown Court, after he grabbed two colleagues in bear hugs at the former Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn, in 2006 The doctor's victims, aged 24 and 32 at the time, were said to have suffered considerable upset as a result of their experiences.

He was spared jail by a judge because he was said to pose a low risk' of reoffending and was instead given a six-month suspended prison sentence.

Dr Chanda was ordered to attend a sex offenders programme and also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

The doctor and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust were also taken to an industrial tribunal by one of the staff members on the grounds of sexual discrimination.

But a financial settlement was agreed between the woman and lawyers who were representing the hospital before a full hearing could take place.

The GMC hearing involving Dr Chanda, of Trafalgar Road, Wigan, is expected to last for two days at the watchdog's offices in Manchester.