Paul Robertson is understood to have set up the service with his wife Ann, a member of the British Psychological Society, at their home near Southampton, Hampshire.

The ex-family doctor was jailed for 15 months last year after being convicted of conning elderly Sam Maggs out of his £17,000 life savings.

Less than two weeks ago the General Medical Council decreed that Mr Robertson should be suspended as a doctor pending removal from its register from September 22.

Seven former patients have since contacted Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority saying they had received letters from Mr Robertson advertising "Simply Counselling".

The service offers counselling for bereavement, addictions, stress, eating disorders and an adult-minding facility.

Family of CJD victim awarded £1.4m

The family of a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon who died from CJD has accepted £1.4m damages in the High Court in settlement of their compensation claim over his death.

Mr Neil Kreibich, who was treated with contaminated human growth hormone as a youngster, died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in July 1997 at the age of 37.

At a hearing at London's Law Courts today, Mr Justice Morland approved the settlement figure to be paid to his widow Elizabeth, a nurse who lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, and their three children.

The sum was awarded by consent against the Department of Health.

Vaccine alert for Turkey travellers

Travellers are being urged to take extra health precautions before travelling to Turkey - even if they are not heading for areas near the earthquake zone.

The Department of Health warns tourists to the country to ensure they are vaccinated against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid.

But drugs company Pasteur Merieux says research shows many holidaymakers skip recommended travel vaccines.

A spokeswoman said: "Travellers to Turkey may be prone to think that, if they are not visiting the area hit by the earthquake, then it will be safe - but due to the amount of migration away from the area into the rest of the country, there is a risk that infectious disease could be spread."

Nigella Lawson appointed to NHS body

Writer and broadcaster Nigella Lawson has been appointed to the board of the body which will decide what treatments should be available on the NHS.

Ms Lawson is to be a non-executive board member of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of NICE, said Ms Lawson had been appointed partly because of her experience of watching her journalist husband John Diamond being treated for cancer in NHS hospitals.

Mr Diamond was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1997 and after undergoing radical surgery and chemotherapy was recently told the illness is terminal.

He has written a weekly column on coping with cancer for The Times and a best-selling book about the disease.

Branson highlights blood pressure risks

Virgin boss Richard Branson is having his blood pressure to recruit patients for a huge clinical trial.

The all-action entrepreneur is trying to raise awareness about high blood pressure, which is estimated to affect one in five Britons over the age of 30 and is a major contributor to stroke and heart disease.

He is also trying to attract patients to a huge European trial of treatments for blood pressure.

The Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial is seeking 18,000 patients from seven European countries to test drugs.

Prospective patients should approach their GP about the project, which assures that none of the drugs involved are dangerous.