A surgeon who removed a healthy kidney from a patient by mistake was under investigation after another operation last year.

The Welsh health secretary has announced that an independent inquiry will be held after the blunder at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.

Graham Reeves, 69, had an operation on Monday, when a surgeon took out his healthy kidney, leaving him with the damaged organ that should have been removed.

Mr Reeves, from Burry Port near Llanelli, is now in a critical condition at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust has named the surgeon involved as consultant urologist John Roberts, who is now on leave.

The trust's chief executive, Mike Jones, told a news conference it was also investigating another operation conducted by Mr Roberts after which the patient died from complications.

However, he stressed that the trust was not blaming Mr Roberts for anyone's death.

Mr Jones said that the trust had only recently decided to carry out an audit of 400 operations carried out by the urology department following concerns over post-operative complications.

It would be a "complete and thorough audit" of work carried out, said Mr Jones.

John Roberts was employed as a consultant urologist at a hospital in north Wales until 1997.

A spokesman for Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor confirmed that Mr Roberts was issued with a serious reprimand in 1996 in respect of a incident involving his conduct with other staff.

The spokesman added that the incident had not involved patient care.

Health secretary gives statement

Welsh Health Secretary Jane Hutt told the National Assembly that her thoughts were with Mr Reeves and his family after the trauma and distress caused by the blunder.

"I am conscious that the gentleman is still seriously ill and I can assure Mr Reeves and his relatives that the NHS in Wales will explore all options available for his further treatment."

"The Carmarthenshire NHS Trust has set up an expert panel of senior clinicians to look at the whole process leading up to the error," said Ms Hutt.

"At the request of the trust, the Royal College of Surgeons has agreed to perform an independent inquiry and will report to the trust and make recommendations about any action required.

"The trust is keeping Assembly officials and myself informed of progress," she added.

Mr Reeves, a Korean War veteran who worked in a local power station until his retirement, is a divorcee who has no children.

Neighbours said they were shocked by the news and described Mr Reeves as a quiet man who enjoyed gardening.

His close friend, the Rev Walford Roberts has told the BBC that he was still unconscious and did not know that the procedure had gone wrong.

Rev Roberts said his friend had been looking forward to the operation to get back to normal life.

His family did not feel bitterness towards hospital staff - but they would like to see a full inquiry.

Rev Roberts said there would be prayers in local churches for or Mr Reeve's recovery and for hospital staff who are facing trauma following the mistake.

The Royal College of Surgeons said it was "extremely concerned" by the kidney blunder.

"Surgery is a branch of medicine which carries risks but it is very regrettable that this mistake has resulted from human error rather than the complexities of the procedure," said a spokesman for the Royal College.

A person needs at least one functioning kidney to be able to live without constant medical treatment.

A kidney specialist has told the BBC that Mr Reeves will require require regular dialysis to stay alive.

He will also face severe restrictions on food and drink - and in the long term his only hope of regaining a normal life could be a kidney transplant operation.

His relatives are understood to have contacted solicitors.