A VETERAN eye surgeon in East Lancashire - who has not been allowed to return to full practice for five years - will learn his ultimate fate early next month.

Consultant ophthalmologist Arthur Nylander, who worked at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals, was originally suspended in 2015 amid concerns about his performance.

Mr Nylander had been placed on restricted duties in 2013 by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust when he went to carry out cataract operations for Cumberland Infirmary and the Grampian Trust in Aberdeenshire.

He was reported to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), which issued him with a series of suspensions until, last year, he was allowed to practice again, but with conditions.

Mr Nylander lodged a successful appeal, arguing the restrictions were "disproportionate, unworkable, and unfair", reducing him to the level of a foundation-year doctor.

But another review hearing, in Manchester, has found that his fitness to practice is still impaired.

Dr Oluwatoyin Ogunsanya, for Mr Nylander, said his client remained unemployed but had maintained his medical knowledge and attended courses, so he could keep up-to-date with recent advances in his field.

He claimed the "real issue in the case" was the conditions placed on Mr Nylander's record, as they were more suited to a foundation-year doctor.

Robert Dudley, for the General Medical Council, said the eye specialist had not actively practiced for five years now.

And by his own admission, he accepted he should not be conducting unsupervised surgery.

Julia Oakford, MPTS review panel chairman, said as Mr Nylander had not secured a new post, he had been unable to demonstrate his surgical abilities had been remediated.

The tribunal will reconvene on November 1 to determine what will happen to Mr Nylander.