A FORMER Trafford General Hospital doctor - who molested a nurse - has been told conditions must remain on his medical licence.

But the professional watchdog of Dr Imran Qureshi has relaxed the level of supervision the father-of-two will require if he secures another clinical post.

Dr Qureshi was given a 12-month community order at Manchester Crown Court in 2016, after he was convicted of groping the nurse.

The doctor, who remains on the sex offenders register, was initially given a one-year practising ban by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. This was varied to a series of conditions on his registration, when his case was reviewed last year by the MPTS.

Dr Qureshi's lawyers applied to either remove or amend the restrictions, including 'close supervision', a workplace mentor and reporter, a maximum three-months for locum posts and having a chaperone.

Lee Gledhill, for Dr Qureshi, told a review hearing the conditions "had proved onerous" and prevented his client's return to clinical practice. The doctor wanted to take on first-year foundation postings, before moving on to second-year work and registrar positions.

Mr Gledhill said the doctor had been of good professional standing before the offence in question.

Zoe Dawson, for the General Medical Council, said the doctor had made efforts to remediate his issues but had not been in clinical practice for four years and needed to demonstrate he could work within appropriate professional boundaries.

The review panel reduced supervision levels from 'close' to 'standard' and dropped the need for an educational supervisor. He can also secure locum posts of over three months' duration. But he will still require a chaperone and workplace reporter, it was ruled.

Tribunal chairman William Hoskins said: "These conditions serve to protect the public and uphold public confidence in the medical profession by allowing Dr Qureshi to return to medical practice with appropriate safeguards in place."