A WELL-known doctor has been suspended after being arrested on suspicion of child abuse.

Dr Stephen Hamilton, who works at Heaton Medical Centre in Lucy Street, was suspended from his role in December after a police investigation was launched.

It is believed he was arrested in Withington, Manchester. He remains on bail.

Dr Hamilton joined Heaton Medical Centre in 1995.

The General Medical Council, a national watchdog of doctors’ standards, has implemented conditions, which will last until August, 2013.

He is not allowed to undertake consultations with unaccompanied with any patients under 18, who are not chaperoned, unless in an emergency.

He is prohibited from undertaking private or out-of-hours work.

Dr Hamilton must inform the General Medical Council if he accepts any NHS employment he accepts and if he applies for medical work outside of the UK.

He has previously spoken out against the controversial Data Protection Act, saying it was so stringent GPs often struggled to find out what their own patients had been diagnosed with at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

An NHS Bolton spokesman said: “We can confirm the doctor in question has been suspended as a neutral act pending the conclusion of a police investigation.”