Doctor's work restrictions lifted

Andrew Holton will be allowed to practice without restrictions

A doctor who wrongly diagnosed epilepsy in hundreds of children while working in Leicester has been told he is fit to practise again without restrictions.

Dr Holton misdiagnosed more than 600 patients with epilepsy when they only had headaches or were badly behaved.

The General Medical Council imposed restrictions, but the conditions are being lifted after a review.

The misdiagnosis of the children happened over a period of 11 years at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

'Deficient performance'

The restrictions, which limited him to practicing in the West Midlands and imposed a variety of conditions such as working with a mentor, will be dropped at the end of next month.

Dr Holton has agreed not to return to the treatment of epilepsy in children, a GMC report said.

I think he should have been banned from practicing ever again Trevor Parr

He gave wrong diagnoses of epilepsy to 618 children in Leicestershire between 1990 and 2001.

Trevor Parr, who has a son who was misdiagnosed by Dr Holton, said he could not believe the decision to reinstate him.

"There may be a place in the back office doing research but in treating patients - no.

"I think he should have been banned from practicing ever again - I don't think the risk should be taken."

The General Medical Council (GMC) ruled his professional performance was deficient and imposed conditions on his registration in 2006.

The conditions related to where he can work, and in what fields.

The decision to lift the conditions was made by the medical council's fitness to practice panel after reviewing his clinical and academic progress.