BARRED GP Dr Ayakannu Kandiah has spoken out over the decision by Swindon PCT to stop him practising at NHS practices in the town.

Yesterday the Adver reported that Dr Kandiah had been removed from the PCT’s GP performers’ list, along with the outcome of his separate General Medical Council fitness to practice hearing, which concluded last Friday.

The GP has been undertaking administrative duties at his former practice at Sparcells Surgery for several months while he awaits the outcome of an appeal against the decision of the PCT Regulatory Panel.

Dr Kandiah said the situation had taken a toll on his personal and professional life but stressed his main concern was for his patients, some of whom have written to the Adver in support following the news.

“I want to reassure my patients that the most important thing at our surgery is them,” he said.

“This started a long time ago and they don’t like the way we practise but we are very popular with the patients.

“My patients are very upset and they have been ringing the surgery.

“I’m appealing the process because the GMC granted that I can come back and work within Sparcells with conditions.

“I just want to clear my name and, at the end of the day, the truth will come out.

“I am prepared to accept any outcome as long as it is fairly investigated.

“It does affect you personally – my wife is a doctor, my son is a doctor and they are worried. It has been very stressful.”

The surgery, at Peatmoor village centre, has been running with locums, temporarily-employed GPs, since the decision was made several months ago. The PCT sent out letters to all Dr Kandiah’s patients at the time the decision was made.

l In response to the Adver’s story yesterday, a spokewoman for Swindon PCT said: “To clarify, the decision to remove Dr Kandiah from the Swindon GP performer list was made by the Swindon Primary Care Trust (PCT) regulatory panel before the outcome of the GMC hearing.

“The GMC hearing and the PCT panel decision are not connected.

“Dr Kandiah has not been practicing at Sparcells Surgery since the PCT decision some months ago.”