A surgeon has been suspended in Britain over an accusation that he branded his initials inside someone while operating on them.

The letters were allegedly found by a colleague during subsequent routine surgery on the unnamed patient.

It is alleged the surgeon used a beam of argon gas - for sealing vessels - to write them. Experts say it would leave superficial burns but is not usually harmful.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it was looking in to the matter.

"Following an allegation of misconduct, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has suspended a surgeon while an internal investigation is completed" a spokesman said.

Joyce Robins, of campaign group Patient Concern, said "This is a patient we are talking about, not an autograph book".