An experienced surgeon at Kent and Canterbury Hospital who has been suspended for a year has had the ban on working continued by the General Medical Council.

The temporary suspension was initially imposed on David Jackson by the GMC in October, last year, pending the outcome of GMC investigations into him.

Now, in a review of the case it has been continued until April 15, next year.

No details of the circumstances leading to the suspension are given in the decision, which has just been published.

However, a spokesman for the GMC said cases such as this were referred to the interim orders panel when a doctor was facing allegations of such a nature that it may be necessary for the protection of members of the public, or otherwise be in the public interest or in the interests of the doctor, for the doctor's registration to be restricted whilst the allegations are resolved.

The spokesman said that considerations taken into account included preserving public trust in the medical profession and maintaining good standards of conduct.

Mr Jackson stopped working at K&C in July, last year.

He qualified in 1969 and resigned from his post at the private Chaucer Hospital in Nackington Road, Canterbury, earlier last year.