A PIMLICO doctor who over-prescribed pills to drug addicts will not be struck off.

The General Medical Council (GMC) found Dr Ronald Tovey guilty of serious professional misconduct for supplying large quantities of drugs to patients, with a risk that they could have been sold on the black market.

Dr Tovey was found to "fall seriously short of standards expected by a medical practitioner" when managing five patients at the Stapleford Centre, in Eccleston Street.

This included failing to adequately supervise a patient undergoing detox at home, and prescribing a drug without explaining why it was being given to the patient.

The GMC found him guilty at a fitness to practise panel hearing in November 2006, and has monitored him since then.

On Monday (Nov 9) the GMC held a further hearing, finding that Dr Tovey was now fit to practise, and had revoked all conditions imposed on him for the last three years, which included engaging with his medical supervisor Dr Vanessa Crawford.

In a report, Dr Crawford, consultant psychiatrist and clinical director at the East London NHS Foundation Trust, told the hearing she was satisfied there was a low possibility of Dr Tovey repeating his behaviour.

Margaret Burton, practice manager of The Belgravia Surgery, in Eccleston Street, added that she had seen improvements made by Dr Tovey, and that he had helped implement protocols for safe practice in future.

The GMC panel told Dr Tovey: "Your documentary and oral evidence has demonstrated insight and commitment to improvement and the panel has heard from you that you are now wiser and more cautious.

"You further stated that this has been a learning experience for you and you believe you are unlikely to return to your previous ways and that you wish to continue contact informally with Dr Crawford in order to maintain your improved and safe practice."