MEDICAL watchdogs will ask a High Court judge for permission to keep a Rossendale doctor under supervision.

Dr Sydney Farrow, who worked at Whitworth Medical Centre, has been under General Medical Council Restrictions for nearly three years.

The doctor, originally from Brighouse, West Yorkshire, has never been brought before the GMC for a substantive disciplinary hearing, but he was the subject of an investigation by the Health Service Ombudsman in 2005.

The ombudsman found Dr Farrow had made a number of insensitive comments about the death of a patient's daughter, while working for an out-of-hours medical service, Healthcall.

The mother suffered mental health problems since the death and Dr Farrow failed to make a proper assessment of her state, or establish a therapeutic relationship with her, it was ruled.

Dr Farrow later apologised for any distress he may have caused, in a letter to the mother, and agreed to undertake training in the wake of the incident, the GMC said.

The doctor was originally suspended from practice by the GMC in August 2005, but this order was relaxed in July 2006 to allow him to work, under strict supervision, at the health centre in Market Street, Whitworth.

He is restricted to posts below that of a first-year GP registrar, remains under guidance of a principal GP, and must not undertake any out-of-hours work.

He is barred from carrying out medical assessments for the Benefits Agency or Department of Work and Pensions.

High Court permission was obtained to extend the interim suspension until February 2008.

The GMC's interim orders panel has now confirmed the restrictions will remain in place - and sanctioned another High Court application for his status to be extended beyond that if deemed necessary.

An East Lancashire PCT spokesman said Dr Farrow no longer worked for them.