THE General Medical Council (GMC) has launched an investigation into a city doctor suspended by NHS Oxfordshire, it emerged last night.

Dr Mark Huckstep, who worked at Wolvercote Surgery and Kendall Crescent Health Centre in North Oxford, was suspended at the beginning of August.

The married GP, who lives in Headington, is a devout Evangelist according to church websites.

He has been a guest speaker at several churches in Oxfordshire and across the country.

Last night NHS Oxfordshire refused to say what the investigation centred on.

It also declined to say how many complaints had been received from patients.

Dr Huckstep was unavailable for comment, but the primary care trust said he was planning to resign.

Services at both practices, which have more than 1,700 patients registered between them, are being operated by locum GPs.

In Wolvercote, residents are now concerned their 150-year-old surgery in Godstow Road will close after learning it has stopped taking new patients.

A petition in support of the surgery was set up on Tuesday and has already gathered 500 signatures.

Supporters of the petition stood outside the surgery yesterday morning to quiz a primary care trust official about the future.

Katie Keeble, who runs the Post Box village shop, opposite the surgery in Godstow Road, set up the petition with husband Carl, 43.

Mrs Keeble, 43, said: “This will affect hundreds of people. The village is expanding rapidly.

“Any patients already using the surgery risk being uprooted and moved to other surgeries around Oxford – surgeries which are already stretched to the maximum.

Last night NHS Oxfordshire refused to guarantee the future of the surgery and said it would depend on the outcome of public consultation.

NHS Oxfordshire confirmed Dr Huckstep’s case was now with the GMC, which checks on standards among healthcare workers.

A spokesman said: “Following NHS Oxfordshire’s decision to suspend Dr Mark Huckstep from the Oxfordshire Medical Performers List, he has told the PCT that he intends to end his contract.

“Dr Huckstep is a single-handed GP providing services at both practices and the only contract holder.

“As such, the PCT need to look at how the services he provides are re-provided locally.

“This review will include a consultation with patients.”

NHS Oxfordshire said a date for the public consultation would be set when it received a formal letter of notice from Dr Huckstep.

A spokesman added: “The PCT is sending out a letter to patients explaining the situation and will write to them again when we start the consultation process. The process will include liaison with the Wolvercote Commoners’ Committee and public meetings for patients and the community.”

Mr Keeble said: “We are slowly being eaten up by Oxford city. We have already lost our post office, we very nearly lost our school, we cannot lose our surgery. The heart of any community lies in those three things. We will fight to keep the surgery open.”