Questions were due to be raised in Parliament today over the crisis in Colchester General Hospital's neurology department.

Colchester's Lib Dem MP Bob Russell was due to ask the Secretary of State for Health Alan Milburn why promises that a second consultant neurologist would be appointed were not kept.

Mr Russell's question was tabled in July and has now become all the more timely following the suspension of the town's only consultant neurologist, Giles Elrington.

Mr Russell said: "I have been pushing for the appointment of a second consultant for more than a year. "Waiting times are already unacceptably long. The situation now is desperately worrying."

Meanwhile, suspended consultant neurologist Giles Elrington faces a disciplinary hearing after making comments about another member of staff.

Dr Elrington, who works at Colchester General Hospital, today (Tuesday) said he received a letter this morning from Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust informing him of the hearing.

"It says the possibility exists that I might be dismissed. I'm gutted," he said.

A spokesman for Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust declined to comment on the matter but said new referrals were being dealt with by another physician qualified to practice neurology.

He said the Trust was still working hard to provide cover during Dr Elrington's period of "special leave".

By Jeremy Price

Reporter's e-mail: jeremy.price@thisisessex.co.uk

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