Prof Brown, who retired in 2023, is being investigated over allegations he gave patients unnecessary chemotherapy treatments for a number of years.

Professor Andy Hardy, chief executive officer of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: ‘The trust is committed to providing the best and safest care possible for our patients.

‘We take very seriously any allegation that care provided by a member of staff, past or present, may have fallen below the standards we would expect for our patients.

‘I can confirm we are undertaking an internal review of this matter and, once completed, will consider what further steps may be necessary.

‘As our review is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.'

Prof Brown has since referred to the General Medical Council by law firm Brabners which is representing one of his former patients.

Fiona Tinsley, partner and head of clinical negligence and serious injury, Brabners, said: ‘Any form of chemotherapy is incredibly difficult for patients both physically and mentally as well as posing some long-term health risks. This is the case even over the normal course of relatively short cycles.  So, enduring repeated waves of temozolomide chemotherapy for more than a decade has taken a significant toll on our client's health, wellbeing, and quality of life. It has restricted their options in terms of their education and career and made starting a family incredibly stressful. 

‘On top of this they placed significant trust in the care of Prof Ian Brown and if they ever questioned the length and duration of their chemotherapy, they were told that not doing so would likely lead to their death. They thought he was saving their life, not ruining it. To now find out that this simply wasn't the case has had a significant impact on their mental wellbeing.'