THE doctor at the centre of a row that closed a Pinner surgery never faced a fitness to practice hearing, health bosses revealed.

Dr Niall Dove was suspended and an investigation held into his performance at the Village Surgery, in Barrow Point Avenue, in 2008.

Concerns relating to his use of computer systems, his record keeping and his ordering of tests were upheld and he was banned from performing certain tasks without supervision.

But he was allowed to return to work and the two remaining partners Dr Sheridan, who says “competency” was at the heart of the issue, and Dr Wong later resigned.

Mark Easton, chief executive of NHS Harrow, which managed the clinic, said the organisation felt to continue with just one partner would be “unsafe” for patients.

Only the General Medical Council (GMC) can rule on a doctor's fitness to practice but Mr Easton last night told a packed meeting with 150 patients that Dr Dove was never referred to the body.

Mr Easton said: “An independent review was conducted which confirmed there was justification for the concerns raised about record keeping, use of IT and ordering of tests, but no evidence that patients had come to harm or that there were significant threats to patient safety.”

He added: "Eventually, the PCT was informed that all three partners within the practice wished to leave the partnership and the contract.

"The partners agreed that ending the contract quickly was at that stage the best option and NHS Harrow agreed."

He said suspension was a neutral act and told the Harrow Times he could not reveal why Dr Dove was not referred to the GMC.

Angry crowds demanding to know why a surgery many had been using their entire lives was closed with at most 48 hours notice gathered outside Pinner Village Hall, but many were turned away due to lack of space.

SIA certified security guards were employed to police the event, attended mainly by older residents, and once it started Mr Easton faced heckling from patients who hold his organisation responsible for the surgery's closure.

Dr Sheridan, who attended the meeting, said: “We are talking about health provision for the patients. This idea that there was a tiff is misinformation.

“This to us was a simple issue about skills, attitude and competency.”

He added: “It was safe when we were there and now all of a sudden it's no longer safe.”

Some in the audience stood up for Dr Dove, who was not there to defend himself.

More to follow.