A HOSPITAL consultant who admitted failing to take a patient's symptoms seriously has been cleared of serious professional misconduct.

Dr John Paterson, a consultant physician at Scarborough General Hospital, was said to be "delighted" to have been vindicated by the General Medical Council (GMC).

While the GMC found that he had failed to provide "an appropriate standard of care" to the patient, known as Mr A, the professional conduct committee decided it was an isolated error and cleared him of the charge.

A spokeswoman for Dr Paterson said: "He would like to express his thanks to all the many patients, friends and colleagues who have been so supportive during this difficult time."

Dr Paterson, who is a former medical director of St Catherine's Hospice, in Scarborough, was the trust's medical director until March this year.

The GMC's professional conduct committee considered allegations that the consultant failed to make an adequate and accurate diagnosis of a patient's condition.

It was also alleged that Dr Paterson failed to show the patient proper respect or take his symptoms seriously.

The case revolved around a patient who was coughing up blood who complained to the GMC because he felt the consultant was not taking his concerns seriously enough.

The patient, who was under the care of Dr Paterson at the private BUPA Belvedere Hospital, in Scarborough, from April 1997 to January 1999, was subsequently operated on at another hospital where surgeons removed a benign tumour from his throat.

After a two-day hearing in Manchester the committee concluded that the matters admitted or found proven against Dr Paterson could be seen as an "isolated error of judgement" and determined that he was not guilty of serious professional misconduct.