A BURY GP has been officially suspended by the General Medical Council amid claims he hired a surgery worker with criminal convictions.

Colin Ogdon, of Higher Lees Farm, Helmshore Road, Holcombe, has had his suspension confirmed by the General Medical Council after originally being suspended in October.

In June last year, medical magazine Pulse claimed Dr Ogdon was the subject of a health authority report alleging he had hired a financial consultant named Darren Gerrard to work in his surgery.

An interim inquiry by Bury and Rochdale Health Authority identified a range of concerns about Gerrard, who had convictions for kidnapping, forgery and grievous bodily harm, particularly over his access to patient records.

Dr Ogdon's suspension has been extended to April by the GMC who stress the move does not amount to a finding of fact but is designed to protect the public.