Dr. Ikwueke, the popular local GP, given strong support by Tory Chairman 21/02/09

Justin Hinchcliffe, a local resident and Chairman of Tottenham Conservatives, has today slammed the General Medical Council (GMC) for suspending Dr. Jerome Ikwueke, the GP who first flagged up Baby P's injuries as suspicious.
 
Hinchcliffe claims that Dr Ikwueke is the victim of a "witchhunt" which can only deflect attention away from the failings of Labour-run Haringey Council's Social Services Department. In a statement, Hinchcliffe said:
 
"Dr Ikwueke was the first person to notice and report concerns over Baby P's injuries. He acted properly in alerting those responsible for child protection in the borough of Haringey. What more could he have done?
 
"I can see the benefit to Haringey Council and the Social Services establishment in trying to deflect attention from their own many documented failings in this case onto the medical profession instead. But why is the GMC collaborating in this witchhunt? It seems that GPs today are expected to be half clinician, half social worker and half policeman--you can see that it doesn't add up!
 
"We can all see that child protection is a multi-disciplinary matter involving social services, schools, the police and the medical profession. But GPs throughout Britain should be alarmed by the treatment of Dr Ikwueke as it suggests that GPs will be held accountable if other links in the child protection change break.
 
"Dr Ikwueke was my GP for many years and my mother and grandmother remain his patients today. We have always found him to be a highly competent, caring, courteous and diligent local GP. He always went the extra mile to ensure his patients received first-class advice and treatment. I hope Dr. Ikwueke is able to clear his good name and return to duty as soon as possible"
 
Note to Editors:
Cllr. George Meehan, former leader of Haringey Council, and Cllr. Liz Santry, former cabinet member responsible for child protection, both remain as Haringey councillors drawing full councillors' pay, despite having stepped down from their executive roles.