Dr David Hickson, a GP at the Medical Centre, Station Avenue, Bridlington, appeared before a General Medical Council Fitness To Practice Panel last week to face allegations including abusing his professional position, dishonesty and improper conduct.

The eight-day hearing concluded on Friday last week with the ruling that Dr Hickson be suspended from his duties as a GP for 12 months.

The hearing heard the affair began some time between Christmas 2003 and early January 2004 when Dr Hickson was treating both the woman and her husband as his patients.

It is alleged that the woman had a history of mental illness and that her husband had expressed concern to Dr Hickson over his wife's state of mind.

Dr Hickson has been practising medicine for more than 20 years.

He is the chairman of the Yorkshire East Riding Voluntary Accident and Emergency Service (Yervaes) – a rapid response team of doctors who attend incidents across the county to give life-saving treatment.

The full details of the hearing, in Manchester, have not yet been made public.