A SURGEON is facing a General Medical Council inquiry over allegations that he threatened junior staff.

Dr Lucas Van Vuuren, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Friarage in Northallerton, has been called before a preliminary hearing of the council next month.

It will decide whether he has a case to answer and could then proceed to a full professional conduct hearing.

It is understood that complaints have been made that Dr Van Vuuren behaved aggressively towards junior doctors.

Some of those concerned have left the Friarage, which was taken over by the South Tees NHS Trust last month.

A former Friarage employee, who did not want to be named, claimed hospital bosses had been 'inactive' over the issue.

Last month the trust confirmed that a consultant had been suspended pending an investigation into 'allegations of a non-clinical nature.'

The trust has refused to confirm or deny whether that was Dr Van Vuuren, who is originally from South Africa.

It said no evidence was found to substantiate the allegations and the member of staff is now back at work.

Last week, an approach by journalists to Dr Van Vuuren, through the trust, found him unavailable for comment.