A CONSULTANT who caused a furore after he claimed he’d been reduced to "twiddling his thumbs" because of NHS cutbacks, has resigned from Medway Maritime Hospital.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist David Penman made national headlines when he claimed patients were having operations postponed in order to meet NHS finance targets.

In March he said patients who should have been seen in the first three months of 2006, were having appointments put back until the start of the new financial year in April.

Mr Penman said disciplinary action had been taken against him after he spoke to the media with his complaints.

In a letter of resignation, Mr Penman said: "I can no longer tolerate working for an organisation that has replaced clinical need, honesty and integrity by a culture of political targets, spin and dishonesty."

Mr Penman added that he regretted the necessity to resign as the NHS had been part of his life since birth. Both his father and grandfather had been NHS consultants.