A NORTH Yorkshire gynaecologist has appeared before a disciplinary hearing after making an alleged joke about putting leeches on a woman's genitals.

Dr Adrian Barnett, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Harrogate and District NHS Trust, is also accused of asking Julia Clarke about her sex life.

The General Medical Council was also told that Dr Barnett said he would always be friends with her and even went to look at her house when she was away on holiday.

Dr Barnett, 40, is facing accusations that during his care of Mrs Clarke in 2004 and 2005 he developed an emotional relationship with her and caused her to become dependent on him.

The author, who writes for teenagers and has had six novels published, underwent a series of operations in December 2004 and January 2005 after suffering a prolapse.

It is alleged that during a consultation on January 15, 2005, Dr Barnett joked that he would put leeches on her genitals because it was the only thing left that he could do for her.

Richard Pearce, for the GMC, said: During the course of the consultation there were a number of inappropriate comments made by Mr Barnett and are perhaps something of an indication as to how the relationship was developing in a different way to the usual doctor-patient relationship.

Mrs Clarke, 57, told the panel that she had initially been impressed with Dr Barnetts friendly and informal manner.

She added: I liked him a lot because he was very childlike which I found very refreshing because doctors can sometimes be quite pompous with you.

The panel heard that she turned to Dr Barnett when she became unhappy with the treatment she was receiving from another doctor at the same time.

Describing herself as desperate, she said she just wanted someone who could help her back to health.

Repeated surgery had left her clinically depressed and suicidal, she added, and Dr Barnett had offered to help her.

He said she could call him any time if she was feeling suicidal.

It was too much for him to offer, said Mrs Clarke. I know how difficult it is to help people with mental health problems, with emotional problems, and I didnt think it was a practical suggestion.

Mrs Clarke began seeing a psychiatrist, who told her that her relationship with married father Dr Barnett had developed into more of a friend-based relationship than a doctor-patient one, the panel was told.

Dr Barnett faces charges that his conduct was inappropriate; an abuse of his professional position; not in the best interest of the patient and not of the standard expected by a medical professional.

The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.