A Bradford NHS health chief has given evidence against a former Bradford breast surgeon accused of "dishonestly and deliberately" misrepresenting his career.

David Jackson, chief executive of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, appeared before the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee talking about the appointment of Robert Phipps as a surgeon at Bradford Royal Infirmary in 1998.

Speaking about the Trust's decision to appoint Mr Phipps - whose CV showed a catalogue of senior registrar and consultant positions in Britain and New Zealand - Mr Jackson said: "We assumed that, having been through the vetting process, in which his application would have been screened by the Royal College of Surgeons and the appointments advisory committee, he was properly trained and qualified and appointable as a qualified surgeon.

"The system was designed to make sure people who were not suitable did not get through to the interview stage and, having been through that stage, the Board believed he was properly qualified."

When asked by Professor Philip Bean of the GMC panel whether the Trust had a reference from Mr Phipps's most recent employer in New Zealand Mr Jackson replied: "I cannot say we took up references from his most recent employer prior to employment."

But he said appointments of staff at such a senior level had, to a certain extent, "have to be based on an assumption of trust".

Mr Phipps, 49, from Beech Tree Court Shipley, took up his Bradford post in September 1998 as a consultant general surgeon with a special interest in breast surgery and endocrinology.

But six months into his appointment, Mr Jackson said, concerns were raised about his qualification for the job.

"I was invited to a meeting by the Specialist Advisory Committee where concerns were raised relating to Mr Phipp's training and qualifications.

"I didn't want to get drawn into gossip so I asked for any concerns to be put in writing to me, but there was subsequently no mention of it in the letter I received."

But, in the months that followed, Mr Jackson claimed further doubts were highlighted, sparking an internal inquiry.

He added: "By April 2000, the rumours had reached a crescendo and we were getting information from a number of different sources about problems with his accreditation.

"I obviously had concerns that he was not properly accredited so I began my own checks by corresponding with a previous hospital."

The checks unveiled discrepancies on his CV relating to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth; the St Helier Hospital, London, and the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, where he claimed to have held senior registrar positions which meant he got retrospective accreditation for higher surgical training.

The GMC has accused him of being inappropriate, intending to mislead, dishonest and unprofessional.

Mr Phipps denies dishonesty and unprofessionalism. He was sacked in 2000 as a breast cancer surgeon in Bradford.

Mr Phipps claims he was sacked after he raised allegations about the management of breast cancer care in Bradford.

The hearing continues.