A DOCTOR is under investigation amid fears of a conflict of interest over holiday sickness claims.

Blackburn GP Dr Zuber Bux has been referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) because of his part in a number of cases where his wife’s law firm, AMS, was also involved.

The matter came to light during the case of two holidaymakers who claim they fell ill while on a TUI holiday in Spain.

Chelsea Devine and Jamie Melling from Liverpool, falsely claimed they were ill for weeks after eating and drinking during their all-inclusive trip to Benidorm, Spain.

But the pair were ordered to pay TUI £15,000 in court costs after they lost their claim and the firm raised its concerns about Dr Bux’s role in the case.

Dr Bux practised at Brookhouse Medical Centre prior to its merger with Shifa Surgery in Bangor Street, Blackburn.

AMS Solicitors, where Sehana Bux is a partner, has been referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority but denies any suggestion of wrongdoing.

The Daily Mail reported Dr Bux had prepared 684 holiday sickness reports over the past two years for medical legal agency MLLS at £180 a report, earning him a total of £123,120.

A TUI spokesman said: “We believe the fact that medical evidence is being produced by the husband of a partner of AMS, the firm of solicitors representing Ms Devine and Mr Melling, raises serious and obvious ethical and legal questions.

“We’ve made the General Medical Council and the Solicitors Regulation Authority aware of this and also highlighted our concern to the court.”

The spokesman added TUI has 31 live cases where court proceedings have started in which Dr Bux provided medical evidence.

They said: “It’s really disappointing that we have had to go this far in order to defend our industry and hotel partners as well as protect honest holidaymakers.

“The court has found that Chelsea Devine and Jamie Melling have brought claims that are fundamentally dishonest and have been ordered to pay our costs.

"This goes to highlight the penalty you can face if you bring an exaggerated or fraudulent holiday sickness claim.

“We hope this sends a clear message to anyone else considering this route.

"We will simply not pay compensation claims of this nature and we will bring all similar cases to a court hearing.”

The GMC declined to comment.