A hospital doctor sacked for bedding one of his patients is fighting to get his job back.

Dr Mardan Mahmood has appealed against the decision to dismiss him from the haematology department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

The Argus revealed last month how hospital managers took action after being approached by a woman who told of her three-year affair with the 54-year-old medic.

The doctor, who divided his time between working at the hospital and running a launderette in Croydon, was found guilty of misconduct.

He was sacked for conducting an affair with a patient, contrary to General Medical Council guidelines, and for writing his own prescriptions.

Dr Mahmood, who worked at the hospital for five years, insisted he would contest the case and The Argus understands he submitted a formal appeal just before a two-week deadline expired.

His former lover, a 54-year-old woman from Brighton, claimed he pressurised her into an affair after a consultation at the hospital in December 1999.

She ended the affair in September 2002 after becoming suspicious about his relationship with a woman in Croydon.

The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, began an investigation in February after the woman met assistant complaints manager Lesley Green and deputy personnel manager Simon Morris.

Trust chief executive Stuart Welling wrote to the woman last month, saying: "I appreciate you taking the time to bring your concerns regarding the conduct of Dr Mahmood to the trust's attention.

"I understand that this was a very personal matter and must have been difficult for you to discuss. On behalf of the trust I am sorry for the distress that this incident caused you and once again thank you for advising us of your concerns."

A trust spokesman yesterday refused to comment, saying the trust would not discuss any personnel matters.

Staff at the Croydon Cleaning Centre, which Dr Mahmood co-runs, said he seldom called into the shop, leaving hands-on management to another owner.

The shop, which offers coin-operated washing machines and dry cleaning services, is in a run-down but busy part of west Croydon, sharing the premises with a barber's.

Dr Mahmood, who had continued to send his ex-lover a series of text messages she found offensive, has since changed his mobile phone number and was unavailable for comment.

His former lover said: "I don't see how the hospital can take him back.

"It seems a real shame that someone as intelligent as he clearly is can overstep the mark like this and have everything catch up with him."

She also intends to file a claim against him at Brighton County Court for money she claims he owes her.

She said she had lent him £8,000, of which she had so far only recouped £4,400.