A PENSIONER has been banned from seeing a doctor after a confrontation over his wife's condition.

Retired taxi driver George Ashman says he wanted to ask Dr Peter Fish why he had prescribed his wife anti- depression medicine when she actually had a urinary tract infection.

But he claims Dr Fish refused to talk to him and after a brief scuffle in the surgery waiting room Mr Ashman followed him out into the garden of the Westwood Surgery, Westwood Lane, Welling.

The 72-year-old, of Falconwood Avenue, Welling, was surprised to see Dr Fish jump over the small garden wall.

He was even more surprised to see him beckoning to him.

Mr Ashman said: "He said, 'Come on then, try and catch me'.

"I thought what sort of doctor wants a 72-year-old man to chase him?"

Dr Fish reported Mr Ashman to the police after the incident at his surgery on September 21 last year.

The Crown Prosecution Service did not prosecute but Mr Ashman is now banned from seeing doctors in Welling and must call Primecare Medical Services.

This company works with the NHS to provide health services to people who doctors believe could be dangerous.

The grandfather-of-six is outraged and has made an official complaint to Bexley Primary Care Trust (PCT).

He is allowed to take his wife Sylvia, 70, to see her new doctor at the Bellegrove Surgery, Bellegrove Road, Welling, but cannot go and see a doctor himself there until his ban expires in September.

A PCT spokesman said: "In the case of Mr Ashman, his behaviour was felt by the practice to be violent. He was removed from the practice's list.

"In line with our policy the police were called by the practice.

"So too were the Kent Support Agency which has ensured Mr Ashman has access to a general practitioner working for the special allocation service.

"I can confirm Bexley Care Trust has recently received a complaint from Mr Ashman which is currently being investigated according to the Care Trust Complaints Policy."