Petition started in support of suspended doctor

By Q Radio News

Almost 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for a GP, who was suspended over an anti-vaccine rant, to be reinstated. 

Dr Anne McCloskey is being investigated over comments she made in a video shared on social media and is currently banned from working for all health and social care services.

In the clip, she claimed the pandemic has largely been a figment of the media and government's imagination and that vaccines are unapproved and unlicensed. 

Almost 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for a GP, who was suspended over an anti-vaccine rant, to be reinstated. https://t.co/CLFicoQGeg

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 26, 2021

One supporter who commented under the online petition said the doctor was being punished for telling the truth. 

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) has ordered an investigation after receiving complaints about the comments.

On Tuesday, the HSCB confirmed it has suspended Dr McCloskey as a precautionary measures while it investigates her comments.

“Suspension is not an automatic occurrence when undertaking an investigation but may be necessary where there are concerns regarding patient safety and in the public interest,” a spokesperson said.

“Dr McCloskey is not free to work for HSC organisations during her suspension.”

In an earlier interview, Dr McCloskey said she stands by her comments.

When her comments emerged, the Health and Social Care Board launched an investigation.

A spokesperson said: "The HSCB can confirm that Dr Anne McCloskey works on a sessional basis for Western Urgent Care (WUC), which is the organisation responsible for GP Out-of-Hours Services in the Western area.  This means that she does not frequently work for the service. 

"The Health and Social Care Board takes a very serious view of this. Patients often turn to GPs as a source of medical advice and GPs must inspire confidence and trust in patients."

(Northern Ireland currently has the highest infection rate in the UK with medics and ministers here urging people to get the vaccine)