Single jab doctor claims victory

Dr Mansfield (left) gives a child the single vaccine.

The General Medical Council (GMC) says there is not enough evidence to suspend immediately a doctor offering an alternative to the MMR vaccination.

The news was hailed as a victory by the Worcestershire GP involved, Dr Peter Mansfield, who had been reported to the GMC by his health authority.

It had accused him of putting children at risk by giving children the single measles jab instead of the controversial combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccination.

The GMC says the evidence uncovered so far does not show his behaviour is an immediate risk to patients, so it will not be seeking an "interim order" to stop him practising or giving vaccinations while it completes the investigation.

The GP had faced an "interim order" hearing at the end of September, but this has now been called off.

It is nice to discover your own judgement in your own behaviour has stood up to scrutiny

Dr Peter Mansfield

However, the GMC confirmed that Dr Mansfield could still face disciplinary action once its investigation was finished.

While the matter is not closed, the decision that the GP's practice poses no immediate threat to children appears to undermine the main thrust of the accusation from the health authority.

Dr Mansfield told BBC News Online he felt the decision represented a least a partial vindication of his stance.

He believes parents should be given the option of the single vaccination, particularly if they are determined to stop the MMR being given to their children.

'Behaviour vindicated'

Dr Mansfield said: "I am obviously pleased, but it is a bit of a curate's egg of a vindication.

Dr Mansfield may still face a GMC investigation

"They may now ask me to make comments to their preliminary proceedings committee, or might quietly drop the whole thing.

"However, it is nice to discover your own judgement in your own behaviour has stood up to scrutiny."

A GMC spokesman said: "We cannot comment on Dr Mansfield's case, except to say he will not appear before the September hearing of the interim orders committee.

"We cannot say how long the investigation will take or what any future developments will be."

Controversy surrounds the safety of the MMR jab, which a small number of researchers claim could be linked to a rise in autism and bowel disorders.

The vast majority of doctors say that the MMR is safe.

Motion rejected

At the British Medical Association's annual conference in July a motion calling for single vaccines to be made available was overwhelmingly rejected.

It warned that parents who did not get their children vaccinated were threatening the health of other children.

Up to 400 children have received the single immunisations from Dr Mansfield in Worcester in the past year and up to a further 300 at his practice in Louth, Lincolnshire.

Debbie Ryding set up the Desumo Clinic in Worcester where the separate vaccinations were given by Dr Mansfield.

She told BBC News Online: "We gave all the parents both sides of the argument so they could make up their own minds about the vaccinations."