SOCCER star Colin Hendry is preparing to sue following the operation which left his wife battling for her life.

The player revealed the move as the boss of the private hospital at the centre of the case claimed that Dr Gustaf Aniansson, who had performed the liposuction procedure on Denise Hendry, had been cleared of any wrong doing by the General Medical Council.

But solicitors acting for Mrs Hendry said later that the report that the doctor had been exonerated by the GMC was incorrect.

Stephen Jones, of Pannone & Partners, said: "I can confirm that Mr Aniansson's treatment of Mrs Hendry was referred to the GMC by surgeons at Royal Preston Hospital who expressed concern at the standard of care afforded to her.

"At an interim hearing yesterday (Tuesday) the GMC decided not to suspend Mr Aniansson's registration. However, the GMC stresses that no substantive decision has yet been made in relation to the complaint which will proceed through the usual channels.

"An interim hearing is only set up in the most serious cases where the GMC may be concerned that patient safety might be immediately at risk. Reports that Mr Aniansson has been exonerated or cleared are therefore premature and incorrect."

Mr Jones went on: "I can also confirm that we have been instructed by Mrs Hendry to begin formal investigations into her treatment with a view to bringing a claim for compensation against both Broughton Park Hospital and Mr Aniansson."

The ex-Scotland captain, who now plays for Bolton Wanderers, said that Dr Aniansson performed the liposuction operation on mother-of-four Denise at the Broughton Park Private Hospital in Preston in April and he was now taking legal advice about what happened.

Days later she was transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital with septicaemia where she spent more than a month in a coma on a life support machine on the intensive care unit.

Denise, 35, is still being cared for at the hospital where she is said to be improving, yet still poorly. She is out of her coma and off the life support machine.

Colin, who lives in a £1m home in Lytham, said: "I fully support the letter sent to the GMC by the Royal Preston Hospital and have instructed a legal team to advise us on possible proceedings.

"This has been a devastating time for all the family but the most important thing is that Denise's health continues to improve."

Earlier yesterday Linda Hanson, managing director of the private hospital, revealed an internal investigation had been carried out immediately after the incident and said the hospital had been probed by the National Care Standard Commission, the government body which regulates private hospitals among other care facilities.

Mrs Hanson said: "The surgeon involved was exonerated by the GMC yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Had the GMC said there was a cause for concern with that surgeon or we had thought previously there was something wrong we would have suspended him immediately but there has been no wrong doing.

"We have never been able to discuss the incident until now and we have been deeply distressed by the various reports.

"Our hearts and minds have been with the Hendrys all along. We are delighted at how Denise is progressing."

Mrs Hanson said the National Care Standard Commission had launched its own investigation into the hospital's procedures, with which they had co-operated fully.