A DOCTOR has been banned from seeing women patients on his own pending an investigation.

Blackburn GP Shakir Laher, of Pringle Street, has been made subject to a number of conditions by the General Medical Council (GMC) -- the ruling body for doctors -- meaning he must not see female patients without another medic being present.

However, the GMC has refused to release details of the reasons behind its decision.

The conditions are imposed for eight months, meaning that Dr Laher will be subject to them until August 13.

They include the terms that, except in life-threatening emergencies, consultations with female patients, including domiciliary visits, must be undertaken in the immediate presence of another GMC-registered medical practitioner or a practitioner registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, or an adult member of the patient's family.

The doctor must also keep a record of such consultations along with a record of the name of the chaperone.

Also he must notify future employers of the conditions and inform the GMC before he takes up any position for which registration is required.

No details of the circumstances leading to imposition of the conditions are given in the GMC decision, which has just been published.

However, a spokesman for the GMC said cases such as this referred to the Interim Orders Panel when a doctor is facing allegations of such a nature that it may be necessary for the protection of members of the public, or otherwise be in the public interest.

He added it could also be in the interests of the doctor for the doctor's registration to be restricted whilst the allegations are resolved.

Dr Laher said he did not want to comment on the GMC action.