A DOCTOR suspended from work for allegedly hiring a man with a criminal record has retired on the grounds of ill health.

Dr Colin Ogdon, a GP at Prestwich Health Centre in Fairfax Road, was banned by the General Medical Council from practising for 18 months in October of last year.

The move was taken pending a full investigation into the allegations.

Bury and Rochdale Health Authority has now started to advertise the vacancy at Prestwich Health Centre. A locum doctor will continue to treat patients until a successor to Dr Ogdon is appointed. Mr Phil Emmott, director of operations, said: "Letters advising patients of the retirement of Dr Ogdon are currently being sent out, and, in due course, notification of the results of the selection process for a successor GP will also be forwarded to patients." Dr Ogdon (50) of Higher Reed Lees Farm, Helmshore Road, Holcombe, Bury, was the subject of a health authority report claiming he hired a financial consultant, named as Darren Gerrard, to work in his surgery when he had criminal convictions. The allegations related to the financial consultant's access to patients' records.

Dr Ogdon was also found to have worked while on sick leave and medically unfit.

The doctor, who was registered into the profession in July, 1975, was due to attend an appeal hearing this week against an NHS Tribunal decision which had also banned him from working as a GP, but it has been put back to a date later this year.

Gerrard last month appeared before Bury magistrates charged with a number of thefts from the Prestwich practice.