A HOSPITAL consultant who allegedly failed to take a patient's symptoms seriously has been accused of serious professional misconduct.

Dr John Paterson, a consultant physician working at Scarborough General Hospital, is to appear before the General Medical Council's (GMC) professional conduct committee, in Manchester, on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the GMC said: "The committee will inquire into allegations that Dr Paterson failed to put himself in a position to make an adequate and accurate diagnosis of a patient's condition."

She added: "It is further alleged that when Dr Paterson wrote letters about the patient, he failed to show the patient proper respect and failed to take their symptoms seriously."

Dr Paterson's case was referred to the committee by the GMC's preliminary proceedings committee, which vets complaints by patients before any referral is made to the professional conduct committee.

If the allegations are found to be proven the GMC can take a number of disciplinary measures, up to and including striking a doctor's name from the medical register.

Dr Paterson, a general physician with an interest in the care of the terminally-ill, is a well-known figure in Scarborough medical circles.

Until March this year Dr Paterson was the Scarborough trust's medical director, combining administrative work with clinical practice.

He is also a former medical director of the town's St Catherine's Hospice.

A spokeswoman for Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust said she could not comment on a matter before the GMC, but she could confirm that Dr Paterson was a consultant with the trust.