A HUDDERSFIELD doctor suspended due to fears about his health and questionable use of prescriptions has been banned for a further year after a High Court ruling.

After a short hearing, Mr Justice Sullivan granted the General Medical Council's application for an order extending its current ban on Dr Kesavan Pillay working in the UK.

This means he will remain suspended until June next year.

Dr Pillay's case has yet to be assessed by the GMC's full Fitness to Practise Panel, although he was initially suspended in December, 2004, due to concerns over his fragile health.

The GMC first looked into his case in July, 2004, after Boots the Chemist raised concerns over his approach to presenting private prescriptions and collecting medication for patients.

Dr Pillay, from KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, came to the UK in June, 2004, after working as a GP in that country. In England he and his wife began working for a locum agency.

In August, 2004, the agency contacted the GMC, raising concerns over Dr Pillay's securing of painkiller medication via the hospital where he was working, the Huddersfield Nuffield at Birkby.

Dr Pillay later said he had been plagued by dire ill-health during 2004, particularly in the form of acute seizures.

The GMC's interim suspension order was triggered by disquiet about evidence concerning Dr Pillay's health and conduct.