A FAMILY doctor was last night being questioned by police on suspicion of indecently assaulting children and women.

Dr Syed Amjad Husain was arrested over alleged assaults against five females, who are all patients at his North-East surgery.

The Darlington GP is also being questioned by detectives on suspicion of making indecent images of children.

The 29-year-old has been employed by Orchard Court surgery - close to Darlington Memorial Hospital - since August 2001. He has also worked at several hospitals throughout the region.

More than 6,000 patients at the surgery will receive a letter today informing them of the police investigation into Dr Husain, who has also worked on the children's ward at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

A health authority hotline has been set up for patients in the region who are concerned about the investigation.

The alleged victims are three children, a woman in her 30s and an elderly woman in her 70s.

Dr Husain's arrest follows an allegation of sexual assault made by a patient on July 28. He was immediately suspended by the surgery.

The doctor was arrested by detectives the following day and questioned at Darlington police station before being released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Computers and other electrical equipment were seized from Dr Husain's consulting room at the surgery and from his home in the West End of Darlington.

The Northern Echo understands that the seized equipment included a video camera.

At a disciplinary hearing, held at Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) on August 1, Dr Husain was suspended from the medical list to prevent him practising at a PCT area anywhere in the UK.

Other NHS employers and organisations have also been alerted and the General Medical Council (GMC) has been informed.

Following examination of the computers by specialist police officers, the doctor was arrested a second time on August 8 and questioned on suspicion of making indecent images of children.

He was arrested for a third time yesterday following a further hearing at Darlington PCT.

He was taken to Durham City police station, where Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson is heading the inquiry.

A police spokesman said: "A 29-year-old man has been arrested by detectives and is currently being held at Durham City police station where he is being questioned in relation to allegations of indecent assault."

Last night, chief executive of Darlington PCT, Colin Morris, said: "On behalf of the practice and the PCT I would like to apologise for any distress this may cause to patients.

"Allegations of this type place a heavy burden on everyone concerned but I have confidence in the professionalism of the practice, everyone involved in the investigation, and look forward to the matter being resolved."

Dr Husain, who is single, came to the North-East to work after completing medical studies at Dundee University in 1997. He took a job at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, where he worked until August 1998 as a trainee doctor and returned to work there for six months in February 2000 in the paediatrics department.

On June 9 last year, he covered the absence of another doctor for one day on the children's ward.

Sue Covill, director of human resources at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which covers the Friarage, said: "Trust policy ensures children on our wards are appropriately chaperoned and cared for and we believe all staff followed the usual protocols on the ward at that time."

After leaving the Friarage he worked as a GP at Bewick Crescent surgery, Newton Aycliffe, before moving to work at the eye, nose and throat department at North Riding Infirmary in Middlesbrough for four months.

He then went on to work in dermatology and general medicine at the former South Cleveland Hospital in Middlesbrough, now the James Cook University Hospital, before working in accident and emergency at North Tees Hospital, now the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, in 1999.

A spokesperson for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust said: "During this time there were no concerns or complaints raised relating to his work or conduct."

The doctor also worked in obstetrics and gynaecology at James Cook University Hospital, in August 2000, and returned to work as a GP in Newton Aycliffe in February 2001. He left there six months later to take up his post at Orchard Court.

A spokesperson for the GMC said they could not comment on individual cases.