Specialist faces checks

The General Medical Council (GMC) has placed restrictions on an Essex eye specialist's right to practise until the resolution of an investigation into matters relating to him.

The order of conditions placed on the registration of consultant ophthalmologist Dr Thomas Bell of Colchester, were imposed by the GMC's Interim Orders Panel until July 7 2009.

In announcing its decision, the GMC did not give details of the circumstances which led to the imposition of the restrictions. A GMC spokesman said that considerations taken into account by the panel included preserving public trust in the medical profession and maintaining good standards of conduct.