A doctor who gave a clean bill of health to cab drivers without checking their full medical history has apologised.

The GP, who has not been named, was investigated after it was noted a number of Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers in the Braintree district were going to him for check-ups.

Cab drivers are required to have a full medical, costing £20 to £70, by law before they licensed.

Braintree Council launched an investigation and has ruled drivers must go to a doctor where they are registered. The council is also looking at having its own doctor for the checks.

Peter Kilburn, the council's licensing enforcement officer, told a meeting on Wednesday night: "The doctor was carrying out a disproportionate number of medicals. Some drivers were travelling 30 to 40 miles to get to the surgery. I made some enquiries and was told he was cheaper."

Mr Kilburn found the doctor was not meeting the full requirements.

He said: "The requirement for the medical is the doctor signs forms to say he has seen all the patients records.

"When I wrote to the doctor asking if he had done this he wrote back saying he did not bother to get all the medical records - he did not think it was necessary. He has since made a full apology and been reported to the General Medical Council.

"The concern is, but we have no evidence of this, that a driver who knew he had a health problem that may prevent him driving would go to a doctor and lie about his condition. That is what we want to avoid."

Councillors agreed to the new policy for drivers at a licensing committee meeting last night.

A spokesman for the General Medical Council said unless it was an emergency doctors must have access to medical records to conduct an examination.

"We do not discuss individual cases but if the doctor has been reported to us we will look at him on two counts. One would be serious professional misconduct and the other would be deficient performance which would mean the act was not deliberate.

"If we found evidence we would have the power to take further action."

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