A SENIOR heart surgeon has been charged with sexually assaulting six female staff at an NHS hospital.
Amal Bose, 54, was arrested in August and suspended from Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
He is accused of 14 counts of sexual assault between 2017 and 2022.
The hospital contacted Lancashire Police in 2023 after reports of offences against its employees.
A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "On March 14, last year, we were contacted by the hospital who reported to us a number of allegations of sexual assault on employees at the Trust.
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"Following an investigation and after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service we have now charged a man."
Bose, of Thurnham, near Lancaster, has been bailed to attend Lancaster magistrates' court on June 7.
The consultant was formerly head of the hospital's cardiovascular surgery department.
A Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: "The Trust can confirm that a former member of staff has been charged with offences of sexual assault.
"The Trust has been working with Lancashire Constabulary and co-operating fully with their investigation.
"I want to reassure patients and their families that the hospital remains a safe and caring environment and the provision of services continues as normal."