DESPITE the sale of Broughton Park Private Hospital in Preston, 26 former patients are pushing ahead with claims of clinical negligence after having cosmetic surgery there.

Linda Hanson, 54, the long-standing owner of the clinic, sold the hospital in D'urton Lane three weeks ago, and lawyers say she is unlikely to face legal action herself.

However, since Mrs Hanson handed over the keys it has emerged she is still working at the hospital, along with Dr Gustaf Aniansson, the surgeon at the centre of at least 16 claims.

Manchester law firm Pannone and Partners are representing 26 women, including Denise Hendry, wife of former Scotland and Preston soccer star Colin, who was left fighting for her life after undergoing liposuction at the clinic.

Steven Jones, a partner at the firm, said Mrs Hanson is facing no legal action but she may be called as a material witness due to her consultation meetings with the patients. He said: "The fact that Linda Hanson has sold the business makes no difference to the claims because she was never going to be personally named.

"The mere fact that the business was sold on doesn't change the insurer's liability to pay damages."

He said that it was the insurers for the doctor and hospital that would pay out on any successful claims for compensation.

Broughton Park has been taken over by Merseyside based firm Birkdale Clinic for an undisclosed sum of money. Dr Promod Bhatnager, clinical director at Birkdale, said: "We paid what it cost to build."

Mrs Hanson designed the state-of-the-art clinic and also lived on the premises.

Dr Bhatnager admitted she is still working at the site, along with the doctor who treated Denise Hendry, before she fell into a five-week coma.

He said: "Dr Aniansson will continue to treat the patients which he has already seen, but he will not be allowed to see any new patients. Mrs Hanson will continue to work during this transition stage."

Birkdale will not be taking on any of the former owner's liability.

Broughton Park has been at the centre of claims of clinical negligence for a number of years. Several women who have passed through its doors claimed they were left disfigured after operations. Among them was Linda Bullock who paid nearly £5,000 for a facelift and surgery on her lips and eyes by surgeon David Herbert.

Mr Herbert, dubbed 'the flying doctor' because of his speedy operations, performed cosmetic surgery at a number of Mrs Hanson's clinics including Broughton Park. He has since been investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The GMC cannot disclose whether Dr Aniansson is currently being investigated.

Mrs Hanson was unavailable for comment.