A docotor sacked from his locum job in a busy accident and emergency department and banned from practice will discover this week whether he was unfairly treated.

Tushar Kanti Bhadra , 60, of Roxwell Road, Chelmsford, claimed a finding by the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee that he did not have the skills and knowledge for the job was unjustified.

It is claimed the decision to suspend his registration for a year after the committee hearing in July 1998 was unfair and should be overturned.

James Turner QC, for Dr Bhadra, told the Privy Council's judiciary committee the doctor was appealing both against the serious professional misconduct finding and the suspension.

Mr Turner said Dr Bhadra had been appointed at Northampton General Hospital since it was "desperate" for a locum and he was appointed because he had at least some experience in accident and emergency departments.

The offences found proved all related to a single day and involved a patient with chest pains and another with an asthma attack.

Mr Turner claimed he saved a delay, rather than created one, for the first patient and he only left the resuscitation room to get the medical team in respect to the second patient.

He added the suspension should have had conditions to allow the doctor to continue performing general or orthopaedic surgery, which he has spent most of his career doing.

Judgment is being given at the Privy Council on the appeal on Wednesday .

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