POLICE have dropped an investigation into the medical director of one of the North- East’s biggest hospital trusts.

However, consultant gastroenterologist Dr Peter Moncur, from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, remains suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC).

An investigation assessing whether he is fit to practise continues and Dr Moncur has not been allowed back to work.

It emerged in January that Dr Moncur had been suspended after being arrested by Durham Police.

Officials would not disclose the nature of the investigation, but confirmed it was unconnected with the trust, which runs Darlington Memorial and Bishop Auckland hospitals, The University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, and community hospitals across the county.

A spokeswoman for Durham Police said yesterday: “The police investigation into an allegation against an employee of the County Durham and Darlington Foundation NHS Trust relating to a matter outside of the trust has concluded and following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service no further action is to be taken.”

A spokesman for the NHS trust confirmed that Dr Moncur was still suspended by the GMC which meant he could not work at its hospitals.

A spokesman for the GMC said: “There is still an investigation into his fitness to practise ongoing. He is still suspended.”

In January, staff at the NHS trust received an email from chief executive Stephen Eames which stated: “I regret that it has been necessary to exclude Dr Peter Moncur from his role with the trust as a result of a serious allegation made relating to matters outside of the trust.

“This exclusion is a wholly neutral step to allow for a full and fair investigation.”

Dr Moncur has worked at the 1,000-bed trust since 2005.

He is a member of the British Society of Gastroenterology, the Royal College of Physicians and the British Society of Cell Biologists.

The Northern Echo was unable to contact Dr Moncur for comment.