Doc finds court defeat a bitter pill to swallow

BY KEELEY KNOWLES

A doctor who claimed he was suspended for a 'simple disagreement' has lost his appeal.

Mark Struthers, 52, worked as a GP at the Flitwick Surgery, Highlands, for six years.

In March he was suspended after an incident with a partner at the practice.

Mr Struthers, from Flitton, claimed he became angry after a fellow doctor raised something about his treatment of a patient some eight months before.

He said the whole thing was 'blown out of proportion' and he was suspended.

An investigation followed and in April Mr Struthers says he was dismissed for gross misconduct.

He launched an appeal to clear his name and a meeting was held on June 29 but on Tuesday he discovered he had lost.

Speaking afterwards, he said: "I'm really shocked at the sheer spitefulness of it all."

Mr Struthers intends to make a claim to an Employment Tribunal.

Practice manager Sandy Hedges said: "I can confirm that Mr Struthers is no longer in our employment.

"The circumstances of his departure are private between himself and the practice so I could not comment further."